The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is nothing but a thrilling read that truly keeps the reader on the edge of their seats begging to read just one more chapter. Hepworth is a master at leaving breadcrumbs for the reader, leading them straight into an unexpected twist in the plot.

The Soulmate follows two couple who deeply love each other individually, but whose lives cross paths a few too many times. Told from alternating perspectives and in present and past timelines, Hepworth lays out the suspense beautifully.

Pippa and Gabe live in a lovely house in Australia, next to a steep cliff. Gabe has made it a mission of his to talk potential suicides off of the ledge and he is very good at it, until he finds he can't save everyone. As the police investigate the latest accident at the cliff, secrets from all parties come out into the open and wreck havoc on multiple marriages.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Loved the twists and turns of this one. I was gripped from the very first page. Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this eARC!

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a suspenseful psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat with its slow reveals.

My Reading Experience:
I love that there is an actual psychological disorder in this thriller. I had fun diagnosing one of the characters as the story unfolded, and it was quite a puzzle. In the end, I did have the correct differential diagnosis, which says a lot about the authenticity of the portrayal.

I also loved that this story isn't just a psychological thriller but also a love story, as the title would suggest. The love stories, and there is more than one, are compelling from start to finish and add an emotional element not often seen in a thriller of this type. The end was truly tragic and has stuck with me ever since.

I enjoyed the pacing of the reveals most of all. There are so many secrets and layers to each secret, and the breadcrumbs are scattered strategically to keep the pace flowing quickly. I, of course, loved the red herrings and subtle twists and turns, aided by a slight atmospheric quality.

Characters:
Pippa married her dream man, and they have a beautiful home with an extraordinary view and two lovely daughters that keep them on their toes. She is an estate planning attorney and the sole breadwinner of the family. But after a tragic event, the secrets she has been keeping begin to reveal themselves, and her whole life is coming unraveled at the very seams.

Gabe is handsome and charming and agrees to stay at home with his daughters after something happens to make the couple relocate. He has developed a reputation for being excellent at talking people away from the cliff and getting their needed help. Until he isn't, and all his secrets come to light.

Amanda is the other narrator, along with Pippa. She is recently deceased and watching everything happen with the clarity only death can provide. She also offers relevant past information on her life for the reader.

Narration & Pacing:
The story is told by two characters – one of them being the deceased victim – and takes place through each character's unique timeline - past and present. All of this change confused me at first, but I quickly adjusted to the flow of the story and had no issues following the when, where, and with whom.

The pacing stayed consistent throughout. With short chapters and well-timed reveals, the pace is fast from start to finish. I never felt bogged down by the story or the atmosphere.

Setting:
The novel is set in Australia, primarily in a house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The characters could afford such a dream home because this part of the cliff is a spot where people on dire straights come to jump. This creates the perfect atmosphere and backdrop for this type of story.

Read if you like:
• Puzzling psychological thrillers
• Tragic love stories
• Fast-paced stories that keep you on the edge of your seat

Rating: 4/5

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC! This is the fourth title I've read by Sally Hepworth, and most certainly won't be my last. I love Hepworth's writing style and the way she is able to rope the reader in from the first few pages. The short chapters kept the plot moving while serving as mini-cliff-hangers throughout the whole book. I enjoyed the dual timelines and POVs as well - it created so much depth to the story and gave the reader so many layers to think about. I found some of the twists a bit expected, but others took me by complete surprise. I'll read anything and everything that SH writes! If you are a mystery/suspense/thriller fan...check this one out ASAP!

The Soulmate has drama right from the start. The marriage of Gabe and Pippa seems so perfect-until it isn't. In this story, we get to hear the story from Pippa and Amanda's point of view (a before and after/now and then).
I found myself wishing to hear some of the more dramatic scenes from Gabe's POV.
I was drawn in from the beginning, and thought it slowed near the middle. The end, however, I did not see coming. I always enjoy a little surprise near the end of the book. I do not like to give away the details in the reviews-as that is what you read the book for. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a nice twist, and a plot that includes characters who struggle with mental health, couples & infidelity, and a smooth story line.
This is my first Sally Hepworth book, and I will be reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author (Sally Hepworth) for providing me with a digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Soulmate is yet another utterly engaging winner from Sally Hepworth. I’m admittedly a huge fan of this author’s work, for good reason. Her novels are diverse, each unique from the next, well-written, plotted, crafted and absolutely enthralling.

The Soulmate is an addictive, domestic thriller about Gabe and Pippa, a happy couple, with two adorable girls, who live in a picturesque home on the cliffs of a coastal Melbourne town, over-looking the sea. The only problem is, it’s also a frequent place that people come to end it all and jump to their death. Gabe has become something of a whisperer, enticing people back from the cliff with his calm demeanor and soothing words. And then, one fateful day, it doesn’t work, and things begin to fall apart in this couple’s life.

The Soulmate contains secrets and backstories rich with personal history. Sally Hepworth is the queen of penning a plot that is a full-fledged fictional experience, as well as a mystery and thriller, with in-depth character development. I appreciate the way she featured mental illness in this novel in an impactful, realistic way because it is so pertinent and present in people’s lives these days. This is a thought-provoking novel and one you won’t want to miss!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sally Hepworth for the chance to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Sally Hepworth and it definitely won't be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I could not put it down. The writing was beautiful and so descriptive and she kept me hooked the entire time!

Solid 4 star read for me and will definitely be recommending to all my friends!

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth.
Author Sally Hepworth describes The Soulmate as an exploration of the bad and good sides of marriage. It questions what we bring to a marriage and what it brings out in us.

I don't want to give too much away about this book. It has many unexpected twist and an ending that took me by surprise.

Pippa and Gabe are a happily married couple with two daughters. They purchase their dream home on the coast of Melbourne. The home sits on the edge of a cliff. The cliff is called The Drop. It is a poplar suicide point. Gabe talks several people from jumping and becomes a local hero.

One day Pippa is standing in the kitchen and from her window sees a woman stand on the cliff's edge. She calls for Gabe. Gabe approached the woman. Pippa sees him talking to her. She sees her husband standing with his arms outstretched with his palms facing out, he is standing very close to the woman. The woman falls or was she pushed? Pippa feels like she knows the woman. When she discovers her identity it could ruin their lives.

Thank you NetGalley the opportunity to read and give an honest review.

I love Sally Hepworth but I must say I had a hard time with this one. The story touches on lies, deception, infidelity, marriage etc. but somehow I didn't feel much excitement as I was reading. The characters were not interesting enough for my liking. The book wasn't awful, it was just okay. It seems like I am one of the few people who feel that way, I'm glad other people enjoyed it.

Very rarely do I give books 5 stars - it takes a lot to impress me. This book had my jaw dropped from the very beginning, and the amount of times I yelled in disbelief had my dogs leaving the room. I make it a point to take notes while I’m reading - it helps keep things fresh in my brain when I’m writing a review - and I wrote, “HOLY SH*T”, “WTF”, “OMG” more times than I care to admit.

One aspect that made this book so great was that I was so sure I knew what had happened from the very beginning. While my assumption wasn’t totally off-base, the way in which we got to that and all of the other events that happened kept me on my toes. I wish I could take a picture of my notes so you could understand just how absolutely shocked I was at some of the revelations that came out.

Literally I cannot recommend this book enough. I could not put it down, and I can’t wait to read another book by Sally. 5*, all day!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the chance to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my
honest review.

I'm a huge Sally Hepworth fan but this one wasn't one of my favorites. It was a quick read that kept me interested but I would have loved more twists and turns for a thriller.

The setting was great and super atmospheric. I also really enjoyed the dual perspectives. It kept me interested and I liked puzzling together how everyone and everything was tied together.

I had a hard time liking the characters but that is often the case in the family drama/thriller. An unreliable character definitely adds to the tension and questions.

Overall, I read this quickly and enjoyed it.

The Soulmate was my first ever Sally Hepworth read and it definitely did not disappoint! I would definitely classify myself as a "thriller enthusiast" so I find that it is hard for me to really be surprised while reading because I have read so many. The Soulmate hooked me IMMEDIATELY and kept me wanting more!

Pippa seems to have a perfect life with her "gorgeous" husband and two wonderful children, but as in most cases, nothing is as it seems. When her locally known hero of a husband fails to save a woman from her own suicidal urges their family is thrown into a situation they desperately hoped to avoid when they purchased their home on "The Drop". Her husband's story begins to have a lot of holes, and Pippa starts to question everything she thought she knew about Gabe and revisits past betrayals that further cause her to be on edge. Once her family starts to become suspicious, Pippa becomes determined to clear her husband's name, and settle her own questioning mind.

This book was fast paced, well organized and provided well timed twist that kept the reader wanting more! I loved Pippa as a main character, but at times wished that she would have stopped being so naïve to Gabe's actions. The ending nicely wrapped up all point of the story and left me satisfied and surprised! I also love how the author provided us with a look into the future so the reader really got a full picture of how the story would end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me with the Ebook edition of this read!

This wasn't my favorite by Sally Hepworth but it's still worth reading. I was hoping for a bigger twist but it was a bit predictable. I still love the way in which she writes her books and I loved both of these narrators. If you are a fan, check this one out!

The Soulmate comes out next week on April 4, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

"Someone is out there."

I'm standing at the kitchen sink, my hands plunged in warm soapy water. Gabe is beside me, supposedly drying dishes but mostly drinking red win and singing to Edith Piaf. He made coq au vin for dinner using every pot in the house, but if there is one thing to be said for my husband it's that he knows how to create a mood. He's dimmed the lights, lit some candles, even trotted out his best French accent. If not for the kids and my older sister Kat--who is perched at my kitchen counter--it might have been romantic.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for an ARC of another amazing Sally Hepworth book. She has become one of my favorite, consistent, thriller writers and she did not disappoint. A couple moves their family to a house on a cliff that is known as " The Drop" , a place for people to end their lives. One of the main characters is able to stop people from ending their lives, until one day someone comes along that he cannot persuade to live. We soon find out though that not everything is as it seems, and question if this was really a suicide.

One of the things Hepworth does amazing is dissecting familial relationships, and showing us that the seemingly perfect family rarely is. I also LOVE how she has short chapters, which make it significantly easier to binge read.
I will never pass up the opportunity to read a Hepworth book!

Honestly, after The Younger Wife, I was hestiant to pick up another Sally Hepworth book. I loved her previous books though and this was getting such good reviews so I dove in and I am really glad I did.

In this book we meet Pippa and Gabe who live near a cliff where people are known to take their own lives. In the past, Gabe has been able to talk these people off the edge until the police arrive. Until one day he can't.

Hepworth is the queen of family drama and suspense and THE SOULMATE is no exception! Told from multiple POV's both past and present, and short chapters (which I love), we find that everyone has a secret what you’ll sacrifice to protect and be with your soulmate. The characters were multilayered, the twists and turns excellent and the lies and deception kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. If you love a good domestic thriller, I would definitely recommend!

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced ebook THE SOULMATE. After reading the first couple chapters, I thought it was an okay book, but wasn't nearly as good as previous books by this author.. As I progressed in my reading and it became more suspenseful I realized how wrong I was. This was an excellent domestic thriller. It came with shock after shock and I found myself having a difficult time putting it down and am already looking forward to her next novel.

Synopsis:
"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."

My Thoughts:
This story is told in my favorite format, multiple POV's with a dual timeline. But, unfortunately it just didn't work for me. Pippa was frustratingly naïve and Gabe was that guy that tries to be nice and sweet but gives you the creeps. I considered DNF'ing this at the 40% mark, but decided to continue because of all the great reviews - I thought surely it would eventually knock my socks off. While my socks are still on my feet, I did enjoy the way that the story was wrapped up in the end.
With that said, I definitely have an unpopular opinion on this book. If you enjoy a slow burn mystery thriller with unlikable, unreliable characters, and a few twists along the way - I would recommend this book.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of this book.

This was my first Sally Hepworth read and I don't believe it will be my last. I always love a good psychological domestic thriller and this was was pretty darned good. Lots of twists and turns, some expected, others way off from what I thought would happen. When you can't tell the bad guy from the good guy (or gal as the case may be). The way the story was told from two POV's (one unexpected POV), takes us through a journey of love, loyalty, betrayal, acceptance and absolute soulmates. Pippa and Gabe seem to have it all. Beautiful daughters, a beautiful home in a gorgeous local, family who is there for whatever they need. Sometimes looks can be deceiving and this story has plenty of deception to go around.

3.75 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the E-Arc. I loved the way that this book was written it kept me so intrigued as to what was going to happen next. There are things that are triggering like suicide, mental illness but it is portrayed in a way that is very delicate and real. I will say that the twist were total WTH moments I did not see them coming at all and I loved them. I have read books by Hepworth and cant wait to keep reading more.

Sally is one of my auto-buy authors— her books are always on my recommendation list for friends and family. her self-proclaimed ‘funny books about family and murder’ are some of my favs ever and this one was no different. almost all characters are dysfunctional, unreliable, and downright cringeyyyyy.

this is another one you can fly through in a weekend, like I did. it kept me on the edge of my seat, and there were a few shocking twists that I didn’t see coming. if you’re a fan of bingeable thrillers, this one is for you!