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!

The setting is Portsea, a coastal town in Australia where Gabe and Pippa Gerard live with their young daughters. While they have a beautiful view of the ocean from their cliffside house, it is right in front of "The Drop," a place that has become infamous for people to stand at who are considering jumping off and ending their lives. Since moving in, Gabe has talked six people out of committing suicide and has become a local hero. But he is unable to stop the death of Amanda Cameron. Pippa calls the police for help but watches in horror as the woman falls off the cliff. But was this a suicide or something more sinister? When Pippa discovers that Gabe knew the woman, everything changes. The story, told by Pippa as well as Amanda before and after her death, is about love and secrets, and keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat for answers.

Author Sally Hepworth writes the type of "can't put down" books I enjoy. The Soulmate is a tense read and through the creative use of dual points-of-view, reveals the many lies that lurked behind the marriages of the Gerards and the Camerons. The subject of mental illness was well-researched and handled with realism. If you're a fan of domestic suspense, I recommend this engaging, fast-paced thriller.

Rated 4.25 stars.

3,5
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for an exchange
This book had a great concept but I feel the execution was lacking. We follow two sets of couples with intriguing dynamics as we try to uncover what happened the night that Amanda (a part of one of the couples) allegedly jumped off a cliff and died. It's a fun mystery but I found the character's reactions to the things going on around them unrealistic and especially the dynamic between the couples wasn't reliable enough. Like both Max and Arthur keep murdering people on and off all the time with no reaction from their spouses and then are hysterical about the alleged suicide. Also, I feel it's one of those books where the author tries so hard to push feminism to the reader that it takes you out of the storyline (I love feminist stories but you don't have to keep telling me "see what I did there? Am I not super feminist?").
Aside from that the story was intriguing enough to keep me reading and wanting to find out what happened. I felt it didn't really pay off but the journey was interesting. I also really enjoyed the ambiance and the place it's set.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for my arc!

I really enjoy Sally Hepworths books. This one was just as good as others I’ve read by her. I will say the final “twist” was a bit underwhelming and I wanted more of Amanda’s POV but overall really enjoyed this one!

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.

~~~

I definitely think this is my favorite Sally Hepworth I have read so far! Her books are always fast paced, entertaining reads and this one was no different!

The extremely short chapters and constant twists had me flying through the pages and I think you could easily finish this book in one sitting!

If you like a fast paced domestic thriller that isn't scary pick this one up! Trigger warnings for suicide in this one FYI.

The Soulmate is Sally Hepworth at her best. Pippa and Gabe live in a cottage near a cliff in Australia with their two young children. The cliff is known as a spot where people come to die by suicide, but Gabe has become known as someone who saves their lives. Until one day when a woman appears to jump while Gabe is trying to save her. Pippa is watching and she thinks Gabe may have pushed her. The situation becomes worse when Pippa realizes the dead woman is the wife of Gabe's former boss. Gabe left that job on bad terms. Hepworth deftly switches voices between characters, present day and flashbacks. The Soulmate is thrilling and addictive. Hooray for Hepworth!

This book was IMMACULATE. I loved every crazy wild second of it. There’s no way I could predict the outcome, and every time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong!

I'm a Sally Hepworth fan, so my review maybe a little slanted but if you've read her books, you'd agree with me!

From the outside, a couple may have a perfect marriage, soulmates joined together by fate. From inside, two people trying their best to be happy and working hard to insure any problems are quickly addressed. Love conquers all, right?
As Pippa and Gabe live their perfect life in their new perfect home, reality intrudes when they discover their yard is considered a path to a popular suicide spot. Gabe has become known for his successful efforts in talking these despondent people "off the ledge". Until the one time he fails and Pippa learns Gabe knew this woman. We hear the story in two voices, Pippa's and Amanda's......after she jumps.
The characters and their stories are well defined and original. The story twists seem to come when you'd least expect them. Read THE SOULMATE and you too will become a Sally Hepworth fan.