This psychological suspense/thriller is about married couple Pippa and Gabe, whose house is by a cliff that is a notorious suicide spot. Gabe has literally talked multiple people off the edge, but one night a woman dies - and then Pippa finds out it was not a stranger to them. The book alternates Pippa’s perspective, both in the present and flashing back through her courtship and marriage to Gabe, and the dead woman Amanda, who we not only see in the past, but also is some kind of ghostly presence able to observe what happens after she dies.

This was one page-turning, twisty book which created a great, can’t put it down atmosphere. I did guess a few of the twists, but others took me quite by surprise. And when I say I didn’t want to put it down - well, it’s not uncommon for me to start a book one day and finish it the next. But I can’t remember the last time I started and finished a book in the same day - but I did with this one!

I’m a longtime fan of Sally Hepworth, even before she started writing thrillers, and have read all of her books. This was not my most favorite of her books (that would be The Good Sister of her thrillers and The Things We Keep of her non-thrillers), but it was such a fun read that I am sure fans of hers will enjoy.

Soulmate??? I’ve always had mixed feelings about this word and have often been suspect of it based on the interpretations of it by so many. Hubby says it’s because of the “cautious optimist” in me, which he says he loves😊 Anyway, the book summary is kind of vague and basically just introduces the MC’s and the primary premise.

The story begins with a short history of the suicide cliffs that are outside of Gabe’s and Pippa’s backyard and can be viewed by their kitchen window. It’s the perfect place for people to jump off and kill themselves and over the years, Gabe has managed to talk quite a few people off the cliffs until the night that a local woman, Amanda, dies. Gabe says she jumped but Pippa is pretty sure that’s not what she saw from the kitchen window. This is not a spoiler since it is revealed very early in the story.

After that, we get the Reader’s Digest version of Gabe and Pippa’s whirlwind romance, marriage, and parenthood (thus far) of two, preschooler, daughters. Good grief!!! It became apparent pretty early (at least to me) that Pippa is an idiot!!! Although, some will say that she is just a hopeless romantic the way that she ignored all the red flags about Gabe and their brief courtship. However, these days, it’s just plain stupid for single women to ignore certain character flaws and defects about a date and a relationship. This is also not a spoiler because it too is revealed early in the story.

It’s been nearly 30yrs since I was single and dating, but the kind of behavior that Gabe exhibits is just as suspect now as it ever was back in the early 90’s when I was out there dating. I have single friends and relatives and they would describe Gabe’s pursuit of Pippa as “love bombing”, same old crap as before, just a different name. Don’t even get me started on his behavior after they married, but then Pippa is no angel either. Anyway, I guess the author had to characterize Pippa and Gabe in such a way in order to move the story along.

The entire story flips back and forth between Pippa and Amanda as well as back forth between the present day (after Amanda dies) and the past (before Amanda dies). I’ve always found it kind of weird reading a story where one of the MC’s is already dead and their narration is portrayed like they’re some kind of spirit watching over the living as they tell their story. Even Amanda finds it kind of weird indicating that she can’t tell if she’s in heaven or hell. She also admits, she’s no angel.

Anyway, by the halfway mark, there is clearly a secondary storyline that I won’t mention it because that would be a spoiler. The details of this storyline pop up periodically in the story. By the 60-70% mark, the reader has had a pretty good view of the screwed-up marriages of both Pippa and Amanda to their respective hubby's, Gabe and Max.

In the last 20% of the story, it’s not really a merging of the two storylines since they’ve been merging for a while at this point. It’s more like that slow burn that has finally reached the point of combustion. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that big of a blast or surprise, at least not for me. Even the aftermath (which should have been designated as the epilogue) with its major reveal wasn’t that big of a surprise. I actually liked the aftermath, a lot, and felt it actually brought a satisfying end to the story.

For most of the story, this was really a 2-2.5star read, for me. However, I liked the finale, hence, the 3star rating. For me, a good ending can be the difference between a 2or3star rating. I typically don’t read a lot of these kinds of stories: domestic thrillers where the MC’s are screwed-up, married, couples. Hubby says that my horrible experiences with hubby #1 has probably jaded me in regards to bad husbands, real or otherwise. Perhaps. There’s probably some truth to that😊 However, I also don’t like the way some authors characterize some of the wives in these types of stories as ignorant saps. I’ve said this before and I feel compelled to say it again, my fave MC’s are smart, savvy, strong, bad@$$ women.

For me, the appeal for this book was the blurb in the book summary about Gabe talking people off the cliff that I found intriguing. I’ve always been fascinated with that type of scenario and the people who have the ability to do something like that. Additionally, a couple of GR members I follow really liked the book. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

@NetGalley @StMartin’sPress @TheSoulmate

The Soulmate is the second book by Sally Hepworth that I've read and she's becoming one of my favorites. The story revolves around Gabe and Pippa, a couple who moved their small family to a cottage with a oceanside cliff view in Melbourne. The downside to this view is that it's a popular destination for suicides.

Gabe is charismatic and has a reputation for saving those that don't wish to be saved. Hepworth does a great job portraying Gabe as the perfect husband, coworker, and father. Which, to me, causes the other characters to fall flat. The story is told from the past and present of Pippa and the before and after of Amanda, who is the latest to take a fall from them cliffside.

I loved the idea of the plot, but again the characters other than Gabe fell flat to me and I could feel "bad" for any of them or the circumstances they found themselves in. The story had plenty of domestic thriller twists, but I felt that the end was rushed and other plot points were glossed over.

I'd like to thank Sally Hepworth and the generous folks at Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I rated this 3.75 stars (rounded up) for the rollercoaster ride, execution of multiple perspectives, and the setting of this book. I'm a new fan of Sally Hepworth and look forward to consuming more of her books. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Not bad, not great either, Gave 3 stars.

Positive was that the book was fast paced and kept my attention and interest throughout. Negative is that I disliked the portrayal of Gabe's mental illness.

I really enjoyed The Younger Wife last year so I was really looking forward to this one! I enjoyed the dual POVs and timelines as well as the surprising twists. The pacing was fantastic and I was satisfied how everything came together in the end. Highly recommend if you enjoy domestic thrillers!

This tragic tale told by two women-one alive and one dead- takes some surprising twists, including a surprise near the end. Pippa has know there are problems in her marriage and that Gabe has issues (to put it mildly) but he's a good dad. They live at the edge of a cliff, a cliff where Gabe has talked down multiple people but this latest, well there's a bit of confusion as to exactly what happened and what Pippa saw. It was Amanda who went over and Amanda, as it turns out, was the wife of Max, Gabe's former boss and a man with whom Pippa had an affair. Pippa knows there's something more to the story, especially since Gabe isn't talking, and Amanda provides that insight. What starts as a fairly straightforward tale turns quite different,. Hepworth has a good way with characters; even the little girls are realistic and distinct. I felt for both Pippa and Amanda, Gabe not so much. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The story telling is good and it's a page turner - a very good read.

Trigger warnings: Mental Illness and Suicide

I enjoyed Hepworth's book. I think she hit it out of the park with this book. It is a marriage, murder and love story all in one.

Pipa and Gabe have moved to the beach and live in a house on a cliff. This cliff is famous in a diabolical way. There have been a lot of suicides there. Gabe and Pipa see someone on the edge one day. Gabe goes to talk them down, but something happens unexpectedly.

How well do you really know your partner? How much do you hide from the world about them? How much do you really love them? All these questions are what will go through your head, when you read this book.

Tentative publish date April 4, 2023

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#netgalley
#stmartinspress

I always enjoy Sally Hepworth’s books. This one was no exception. I flew through this one in two days ! It pulled me in and I felt drawn to the different characters, especially Pippa and Amanda. This physiological thriller touches on the the subject of mental illness and suicide. It really was heartbreaking to witness Pippa’s struggles in her marriage throughout the novel due to mental illness. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between the two characters perspectives. The twist at the end was good and I did not see it coming ! Highly recommend this book.

Arc provided by Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for an honest review. Thank you !

I've enjoyed a couple of Sally Hepworth's other novels, so I was looking forward to checking this one out. The story started strong right out of the gate, but it took a long time to unpack all the secrets and lies. There wasn't so much one big reveal (we knew right away someone died), but rather many small reveals, connections, and twists. Enjoyable book that I read in one evening!

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

Really enjoyed this one! Solid and feisty domestic suspense that I also found moving by the end of it with a few characters

Synopsis: Gabe and Pippa live in their dream house near the sea. Unfortunately, these breathtaking cliffs are also a popular place for people to end their lives. Gabe has made it his mission to talk people down from the ledge again and again. Until, one day, he doesn’t. Questions begin to spiral as more and more secrets are revealed. How well do you really know your soulmate?

This was such a compelling domestic suspense story! The dual POV, including one from beyond the grave 😳, really added to the intrigue. The entire plot was very cleverly written and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! This is my first novel by Sally Hepworth, but I’ll definitely be reading more of her books!

Special thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for sharing an ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. This title officially releases April 4th!

This book was great. By chapter 3, I was hooked. Twists, turns, red herrings, etc. The end was heartbreaking but beautiful. I loved the little girls, and how we hopped perspectives between Amanda and Pip. They both were amazing female characters and I loved them both.

I’ve been reading Sally Hepworth’s books for years now, and must say that her writing gets a little more dark and twisty with each new release. She has a moody vibe going on, and I like it. She truly is the queen of domestic suspense, and I really love how she blends family drama, marriage issues, motherhood, mystery and uncertainty so fabulously. In The Soulmate, Hepworth gives her readers a “behind closed doors” look at two marriages. Both are unraveling, intense, and extremely complicated. In true form, the author isn’t afraid to get down to the nitty gritty, and really dissect these two complex relationships. I’m not going to say very much about the plot because Hepworth’s novels are best enjoyed if you go in blindly. I’m quite certain that you’ll be pleased with the author’s latest if you’ve read and enjoyed her work in the past. I gotta say that the conclusion/big reveal was a bit anti-climactic in my opinion. I was expecting something with a little more shock value, so that was a bit of a bummer. But oddly enough, I didn’t mind all that much because the build-up was just so well done. If you’re able to go the audiobook route for this one, I say go for it! The narrator did a phenomenal job as her voice matched Hepworth’s moody vibe just perfectly. My attention didn’t waver one bit. Overall, this one was a winner for me, and I highly recommend it. The Soulmate releases next week - Tuesday, April 4th! I give it 4/5 stars!

I've never read a Sally Hepworth that I didn't love. There's just something about her writing style that just makes it so easy for me to fall into the story and completely immerse myself into the characters' lives, and The Soulmate might be my favorite yet. Not only does Sally confront the issue of mental illness in a way that is both heartbreaking and realistic, but she also interweaves the complicated relationship between Gabe and Pippa and creates a totally additive novel that definitely kept me flipping pages, The Soulmate is a one-sitting bingable novel that I loved and will be recommending to all my bookish friends. I can see it being on beaches and poolside everywhere this summer!

I'm a ride or die Sally Hepworth fan. I was overjoyed to receive an arc of The Soulmate. Alas, The Soulmate was not MY soulmate. That isn't to say that I didn't like it. I just didn't love it. It had all of the things I've come to love about her writing like the short chapters that keep you saying, "just one more, " and the cookie crumb way of doling out twists. I typically enjoy the way her mysteries follow a more domestic way of everyday life but this one fell a little bit flat for me. It could be that I finished another domestic thriller recently that wasn't my cup of tea and something with similar themes so soon wasn't my best choice. None of the characters were likeable and by the end, I honestly didn't care what the truth was. Regardless, I still turned the pages and think it would make an enjoyable beach read. 3.5 rounded up.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Sally Hepworth’s newest thriller, The Soulmate!

The Soulmate is a mysterious thriller about marriage and the secrets that both keep them together and tear them apart. Gabe and Pippa have a seemingly perfect life—two beautiful little girls and a perfect cottage overlooking the ocean. But one night, a strange woman is seen outside their home, standing at the cliff edge about to jump. Gabe runs out to try to save her as he’s done many times before, but this time, he can’t. As the police begin to investigate the apparent suicide, it seems as though something isn’t quite right. Is Gabe telling the truth about what happened that night on the cliff? And what does Amy of this have to do with Pippa?

Told through alternating viewpoints and dual timelines, The Soulmate is hard to put down. I was immediately drawn into the story and wanted to keep reading the short chapters to find out what was happening and how all these characters were lead to this entanglement. Overall, I thought it was and entertaining and engaging read!

THIS BOOK.

THE TWISTS.

Did I see any of it coming? No.

I would have read it in one sitting if I wasn't a mom with a 6 month old baby. Everyone should rush to grab a copy of this book as soon as it releases. It was the perfect thriller that I needed.

This book jumps around to different character's viewpoints and different time-frames throughout the story so you need to pay attention. It reminded me of The Guest List by Lucy Foley in the way the perspectives change and how it tells you the backstory.

Pippa and Gabe have finally found their dream home when they realize that the beautiful view provided by the cliff behind it also functions as the perfect place for people to take their own lives. Gabe has a gift to talk people off the ledge (quite literally) and is successful seven times, and featured in the local news... until one day he is unsuccessful. A woman falls to her death, and Pippa can't stop thinking about how Gabe's arms were outstretched when she went over the edge...

Did she jump or did he push her? This book will keep you guessing the entire time.

I loved Amanda and Pippa. These ladies commanded your attention, and were great at telling you every aspect of the story without giving away what was coming. It was captivating and there were so many times I said "WHAT?!".

This book starts in the middle and then proceeds from there with chapters also going back to give you backstory and fill you in on missing details. I liked how not even all of the characters knew everything or understood the full story. It was engaging and such a fun ride that I would recommend to all my friends.

Thank you to my partners, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, and the author, Sally Hepworth. I appreciate the gifted ecopy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

1. Sleazy - I just got a sleazy vibe from both Gabe and Max throughout much of this story. I guess I just didn’t feel that “soulmate” connection Pippa and Amanda did. However, my feelings for them definitely changed as the story continued. Appearances can definitely be deceiving!

2. Deceit - This story is really full of deceit, but it is written in a way that makes it easy to forget about all of it. It is the basis for the entire plot; yet, who would guess the actual inner-workings of it all!

3. Short Chapters - I love short chapters! And this book does not disappoint! I love the change of voice with each chapter and how the chapter titles expressly tell you who is speaking and when (then vs. now)!

4. Mental Illness - A huge part of this story. I feel like Hepworth did a fantastic job with her research into this part of the book. For me, it seemed like an accurate look into a part of humankind that often isn’t thought about by many.

5. Whopper Of A Shocker - Whoa 🤯 I did not see that twist a comin’! And then another one followed it. Everything sure did come together at the end. I just can’t decide how I feel about what happened after the revealing moment…..

A gorgeous and seemingly benign man who has addictive personality and psychotic episodes with a loving, trusting wife, who believes they’re soulmates, trying to hold the family together with a suicide or homicide looming over their heads makes for an interesting story! Hepworth’s writing is captivating from the beginning and the action, details and intertwining events didn’t stop. The characters are perfectly flawed and capable of anything. Hepworth always delivers and The Soulmate is no exception.