The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth was unputdownable. I have loved every book I've read by Sally Hepworth and this book did not disappoint. Hepworth's books are extremely well-written and boast carefully crafted plots with well-developed characters and superbly sequenced plot points. The Soulmate had all of these same qualities. You will LOVE the ride that only Sally Hepworth can provide!

I received a review copy of this book from the author or publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I always look forward to Sally Hepworth’s books, she always writes such fun family drama/suspense stories with memorable characters. The Soulmate wasn’t my favorite by the author, but it was a quick and entertaining read. I never really warmed up to the characters, Pippa was frustrating as a narrator and I didn’t love the ghost POV. There were some things that didn’t fully add up in the plot and I was left with some questions with how everything wrapped up.

I split time between audio and ebook for this and while the narrators brought the characters to life, I found the before/after and then/now timelines along with changing POVs to be harder to track on audio.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the DRC and ALC.

3.5
One of my most anticipated reads of the year and while I enjoyed it, I also feel a bit underwhelmed. I absolutely love domestic thrillers! First off, the title and book cover give the reader the feeling of excitement involving a loving relationship but on the edge of a cliff with crashing waves below leaving an ominous feeling...

I like how the book was structured. We have two marriages and we hear from each woman in a "before" and "after" setting. The event that it works around is a woman who fell, jumped, or was pushed off the cliff. As the reader you are basically trying to solve what lead to the cliffside event and what actually happened.

I thought the plot line was strong. I liked the voices of both women. Nothing was too over the top. Yet. Yet...it was a bit slow going. I noticed at the 70% mark I still hadn't been clued into any big reveal. I continued to feel this until the very end of the book. While the ending information was satisfying, I wished it had been spread out more throughout the book.

Final thoughts. It was good, it was entertaining, but I expected and wished for more.

Hepworth writes in a really readable way that was so enjoyable. I will definitely be reading her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance e-copy of this book.

I left a review for the audio version of this fantastic book. I’m a fan of the author and thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. The narrator was very good and kept my interest going. Highly recommend this book. Thank you!

The Soulmate is a very fast paced, high tension, family drama/thriller-ish book that can easily be read in one day. Difficult to put down, we meet Pippa and Gabe who live amongst a cliff overlooking top the ocean. This particular cliff has quite the reputation for jumpers and Gabe has quite the reputation for helping people decide not to jump. The plot and suspense take off quickly and continues through the last page. Fairly entertaining. Thank you to NetGalley and Saint Martin’s press for an early release e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Soulmate will be released on 4/4/2023.

Another smashing read from Sally Hepworth. She has the most magical way of slowly revealing pieces of someone's personality that at first seems so straightforward. In this book, she had me doubting many different character's intentions and actions.

Pippa and Gabe and their two daughters have recently moved to a beautiful spot on the coast in Australia. Pippa's doubts in buying a house right near a huge cliff is justifiable. But Gabe is convincing as always and she gives in. The story opens up with a woman walking up to the cliff. Gabe has already saved many people from jumping, so he heads out to the cliff to work his magic again. However, this time there is a loss of life. While the police begin to investigate what on the surface looks like another suicide at this spot - it become evident that there is more to this situation than meets the eye.

This one is told in two POVs - Pippa's and Amanda, the woman who perished at the cliff. This was pivotal in seeing how both stories merged. There are many moments in this story where Pippa felt too naive - but I went along with it - knowing that Hepworth is purposeful with each character and it must be leading me somewhere. But in saying that - the reader does have to suspend belief somewhat - but I also think that people can become so enamored with someone that they are oblivious to red flags. I was ready for bigger twists than there were - but still turned pages with fury. I found this story to be engaging throughout with no slow parts.

The core story became a question surrounding healthy relationships. When is love not enough? What do we do in the name of love that can have devastating consequences? When does justifying actions go too far and become enabling? Definitely recommend this one. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC to read and review.

This was an good domestic mystery. Well I didn't see the twist at the end, it felt a little under-whelming. Excellently written, loved the multi POV from the two wives.

It's a slow and sad love story, with a little bit of a mystery included. The writing is great but it just dragged a lot. While there are a some twists in the story it was not so far fetched that I didn't believe it. It's a good story just not quite what I was expecting after reading The Mother-In-law and really loving it.

A solid read! The short chapters worked well for me and I was curious enough to keep going. I found it to be a little lack luster and didn’t really love the glamorization of suicide.

A domestic suspense, which the author describes as a murderous love story in the acknowledgments.

Gabe and Pippa live in an idyllic location, they didn’t know when they bought it that the coastal path at the bottom of their garden leads to a place known as the drop, where the suicidal go to end their lives.
Gabe has become an unofficial hero managing to talk 7 people out of death over the year that they have lived there.
Until one night a woman jumps, it transpires that Gabe knew the woman, however there are hidden secrets to be discovered and revealed.

We get several points of view including Amanda,both alive and after death. The time frames move from before and after the incident. Although her purpose seems more as a voice to the actions of others, rather than her own disclosures.

The pace for most of the book is quite pedestrian, but the tension ramps up towards the finale. There are some decent twists and reveals.
The characters I didn’t find very likeable, one of my favourites was Max.
Some of the decision making seemed questionable, but it made sense by the end.
I enjoyed it, but it’s not one of my favourites by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Soulmate for my honest review

This was a twisty domestic thriller that had me captivated from the beginning. Gabe & Pippa are starting over in a small coastal town with a charming little cottage on the cliffs. What is suppose to be a fresh start turns into their nightmare when they discover the cliffs is a popular spot for those looking to end their lives. Gabe has talked many away from the ledge until the night comes that he can't save her. It looks like a tragedy until Pippa discovers that Gabe knew the woman. Why would he lie? This is a story of true love and soulmates. What can you forgive, what lengths would you go to save your marriage, what is the one thing that can't get past? Heartbreaking look at love, marriage, and the sacrifices you make. When do finally choose you? There were lots of twists and turns and just when you think you know what is going on, you don't.

"He said she jumped. He wouldn't lie." immediately draws the reader in with its intriguing premise of a seemingly idyllic marriage and the tragic event that unravels it. The setting of the cliff-side home adds to the tension and sets the stage for the complex web of secrets that is about to be revealed. The question of what one would do for their soulmate adds another layer of emotional depth to the story.
It’s my first Sally Hepworth novel, so I don’t have her other works to compare it to, where many reviewers seemed to find her style off kilter. I liked it and purchased one for my sister from BOTM.

This was entertaining. It switches from now to before with multiple pov so you need to pay attention. Surprising reveal.at the end.

Short synopsis: Pipa and Gabe buy a beautiful new home, next to a cliff known for people diving off to their deaths. Gabe is the self appointed rescuer, but problems arise when a woman isn’t talked off the ledge.

My thoughts: I thought for sure I had the twist figured out, but boy was I wrong. So many unexpected twists and turns that kept me flipping pages. Gabe was suspicious from the very start, but I loved watching this story unravel and secrets be divulged.

I loved the dual perspectives between Pipa and Amanda (the woman who jumps off the cliff) and also the timeline changes. I loved how fiercely Pipa loved her daughters, and the personality they brought to the story.

The cover and the whole vibe is atmospheric and perfect for a great summer read. Sally sure knows how to write a domestic thriller that has you questioning those closest to you, and what secrets they may be keeping.

Read if you love:
- Domestic thrillers
- Short chapters
- Dual POV
- Unexpected twists
- Family dynamics
- Mental health rep

This is surprisingly my first Sally Hepworth book - not my last.

I was hooked from the first chapter by the storyline. The connections between the characters were fluid but then surprising, I really enjoyed how the plot unfolded.

I definitely recommend this one.


Thank you NetGalley for advanced reader copy for review.

This was another suspenseful domestic thriller from Hepworth! It had interesting POVs in multiple timelines. The characters are mostly unlikeable, but entertaining, nonetheless. This is not as twisty as Hepworth's other thrillers but still entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read this author’s works in the past, but this one is definitely not great. The story begins quite slowly and never really picks up pace. Disappointing.

Another spectacular read from one of my favorite authors! Sally Hepworth has us riled up and raring to go from the outset of this family drama which entails so many threads. We have marriage, murder, mental illness, affairs and all the bad stuff that good people do. A definite must-read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

An enticing title and premise that for me, ultimately fell flat. Excellent performances by the narrators however. Pippa and Gabe Gerard live with their two daughters in a cliffside home in Australia that's become a popular suicide spot. Since moving in, Gabe has talked 7 people back from the cliff, but when the eighth appears, he's not able to save her. But the story he tells his wife and the police seems off to her. Especially when we discover the dead woman, Amanda, is the wife of Max, a boss who fired Gabe. Amanda tells her story in before and after timelines, in a bit of a Lovely Bones kind of way, while Pippa relates hers "now" and "then". These two couples are intertwined in more ways than you'd first suspect, and they have secrets from their spouses and the other couple. The first half of the novel was enthralling and I really enjoyed it. But as more was revealed about Max's business and his marriage to Amanda and about Gabe's transgressions and lies to Pippa, I found it harder to root for any of them or to care too much. Some convenient devices and reveals that were less shocking than intended took some of the power away from the ending.

The premise of this book drew me in right away, although it was a bit slow paced and took me a while to finish. Still, I enjoyed this book overall and found it very easy to read. The story was gripping and almost every chapter opened up new questions and possibilities. I kept wanting to turn the pages to learn more. The mystery had a lot of layers which kept things interesting! The relationships were complex and nuanced, which made them feel very realistic.

Sometimes it got a little hard to follow the multiple POVs and triple timelines. Another downside was that I didn't feel particularly drawn to either of the female MCs, yet I was very empathetic with both male MCs, Gabe and Max. Which is interesting since I'm usually the other way around - but I felt that the author did a great job of touching on difficult topics related to mental health and trauma for both of these characters.

The ending wasn't quite as exciting as I expected it to be, but I thought that the author did a good job tying together all the loose ends.

3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC copy!