The Soulmates explores the darker messy sides of marriage, soulmates, betrayal, secrets, and murder through two couples, Pippa/Gabe and Amanda/Max, opening up questions about who the soulmates are. There is nothing romantic about this story, as themes of mental illness and suicide are used as plot devices.

I received a widget as many people did each of her new releases. There is plenty of hype and buzz for her book, and while I am not one for hype, I am a fan of the author and her work. So I downloaded it without reading the story's summary and avoided the hype. When I went to read the book, I realized that the story was centered around a cliff, The Drop, where people died by suicide. I am sensitive to suicide and mental illness being used as plot devices. I almost didn't read this one, but I trusted the author could pull off a story using it, and she did.

I also received an audiobook from the publisher and enjoyed listening to and reading the story. Pippa and Amanda narrate the story with two performers telling the story. I enjoyed listening to both.

My two cents

While I imagined The Drop, I could visualize the cliffs I visited in Ireland, and while I was there, I took a moment to acknowledge that some of the people who "fell" could have been people who jumped and gave a silent moment of thoughts for the souls lost to the sea. So the story felt very real to me. What I didn't think about was what if there was someone there who listened, understood, and talked to them. That someone is Gabe in the story. There is something about Gabe that can speak to people, listen, and understand.

I am a sucker for the dead narrator and the mystery of their death, and I enjoyed Amanda's POV of view the best as themes of marriage and betrayal are explored. Pippa's storyline is a bit more complex and drawn out well as she chronics the ups and downs of her marriage. We see the couple's different conflicts in their marriages. I doubted if I would like how it all came together; however, I loved the twists I did not see coming, and while there were a couple of things I didn't like, it all came together well with a satisfying payoff.

While I don't like mental illness and suicide used as a plot device, there is a believability element that might not seem oblivious, earning some praise from this sensitive reader.

Overall: The Soulmate is a fast-paced, well-developed story with exciting twists that had me glued to the pages.

To be posted to blog after Pub date https://travelingsistersbookreviews.com

This was my first book by Sally Hepworth but it will not be my last! A quick page turner of a book! While I got clues along the way, the ending was a surprise but not so out of left field that it wasn't believable. This was more than just a thriller mystery. It's a love story. It's a dealing with mental health story. It's a love of family story. But it's also a fast read. The short chapters just made you want to turn the pages faster and faster.
Pippa and Gabe have moved into a cute little cottage alongside an ocean side cliff. Unfortunately, the cliff, nicknamed "The Drop", has also become a place for people contemplating suicide. Since moving in, Gabe has actually become adept at talking people down off the edge. However, this one night, he is unsuccessful. But as Pippa watches in horror as the woman jumps to her death, something doesn't seem right about what she thinks she saw. The book takes on dual POV's and timelines, including Amanda - the woman who has died. I loved the characters in this book, and my heart broke for many of them. I highly recommend!

I whizzed through this compelling novel by Sally Hepworth. I have always enjoyed her books but this is now my favorite! This is a story about two different marriages and how they are intertwined through different layers. The author kept me guessing and intrigued throughout the whole book. She does a great job of mashing up the genre of family dynamics and thriller in such a perfect way. I did not want to put this down, and I think you might feel the same if you try it. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy thanks to netgalley and the publisher but all thoughts are my own.

Title: The Soulmate
Author: Sally Hepworth
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: April 4, 2023

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for offering me a DRC and to Macmillan Audio for providing me with ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Bingeable • Suspenseful • Dysfunctional

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Pippa, Gabe and their two daughters moved into their cliffside dream home with the hopes of starting over after a difficult period in their marriage. Their home is close to a cliff known as 'The Drop' - a spot chosen by many people to end their own lives. In the time since they've been living there, Gabe has prevented a number of people from jumping to their deaths.

One night, Pippa sees a woman hovering close to the edge of the cliff. So Gabe heads out to talk to her, while Pippa calls the police. Pippa sees them talking, but soon the woman plunges to her death leaving Gabe left standing there with his arms outstretched. Originally ruled a suicide, Pippa isn't convinced. When she discovers Gabe knew the victim, she begins to question everything.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Over the years, Sally Hepworth has become an auto-read author for me, and so it will come as no surprise that I was eagerly anticipating her 2023 release, The Soulmate, especially after seeing the stunning cover. This twisty story focuses on the highs and lows of marriage and ended up being simply an okay read for me.

What I liked:
• the cover. I was drawn to the stunning cover before reading it, and it makes even more sense now that I've finished.
• the short chapters. They allowed me to be easily drawn into the plot, and helped build suspense.
• dual timeline/dual perspective. Another tool that helps build suspense and fill in the backstory in a way that makes sense.
• victim perspective. Getting to read from a dead characters POV was interesting and unique. It added a different vibe to the plot.
• the audio. Narrated by Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry, the audio was very well done. The different voices helped me keep track of each of the characters and their stories, and the pacing was easy to follow.

What I disliked:
• mental health as a plot twist. I had serious issues with how Sally Hepworth handled mental health in this book. From a misdiagnosis to yet another portrayal of someone with mental illness being dangerous it all just didn't sit well with me.
• the ending. There was so much tension building and marital drama that I'd expected some mind-blowing reveal, but in all honestly it the ending was a let down.

The Soulmate was definitely a page-turner with more drama than thrill. I thought the first half was very well done, but the second half tried to go in too many directions. While I enjoyed my reading experience this wasn't my favourite of hers. Something about how she handled mental illness rubbed me the wrong way. I'll continue to read her books though.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• domestic drama fans
• readers needing to get out of a slump

⚠️ CW: murder, death, death of parent, suicide, suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, addiction, overdose, mental illness, alcoholism, schizophrenia/psychosis, infidelity, pregnancy, cursing, vomit

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"It's as if, while living your life, you view the world through a straw. You see only the tiniest sliver, all of it from your own perspective. Other people have their motives, their backstories, their feelings, but you don't know that unless they share them with you, and even then there's every chance they're lying or prevaricating. What strikes me most now is the audacity of people, walking around with such certainty while armed with only the scantest information."

“While living your life, you view the world through a straw. You see only the tiniest sliver, all of it from your own perspective.”

Gabe and Pippa have finally found their dream home—a stunning cottage atop a cliff in their coastal Australian town. Soon, though, they find that their home hides a secret...tall cliffs that have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Gabe has managed to come to the rescue of some of these souls.... Until the one time he does not. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral...did she jump? Was she pushed? Has Pippa's perfect life, with her soulmate, been nothing but a lie?

The Soulmate is a legit stay up past your bedtime book. A just one more chapter book. I could not put it down! Told in dual timelines, then and after, and with dual pov, Pippa and Amanda, this book was so fast paced! Very short chapters also helped me to fly through it, which I did in almost one sitting.

The audiobook was IT! The narrators (one each for Pippa and Amanda) have the most soothing voices and amazing accents. They told the story in such a way that I was sucked right in and feel as if I watched a movie. So good. Like SO good!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. Highly HIGHLY recommend.

I'm a fan of Sally Hepworth so I was super excited to receive an ARC of her newest novel. This one is about a husband and wife who live next to a cliff called The Drop. Gabe, the charming and charismatic husband has more than once talked people out of jumping off that cliff. The wife, Pippa, is a devoted wife and mother. One night after dinner, they see a woman standing by the cliff and Gabe walks outside to speak to her. But this time Gabe wasn't so successful and the woman jumps. Questions arise when it's revealed that Gabe knew the victim. Things start to unravel and secrets are uncovered which makes Pippa wonder, did she jump?

I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention from the start and kept me engaged. The dual POVs and timelines were great. I love when the story comes together and it all just clicks! Also, Sally Hepworth has a way of writing and creating characters that you end up really caring about. In the end, I felt for Pippa and Gabe.

This book talks about mental illness, suicide and co-dependencies so if these are triggers for you, you may want to skip this.

Twisty, dark psychological thriller!

This book is outside of my normal genres, but I've heard so much about this author that I had to give it a try. I'm glad I did, it was very good. The plot was well-constructed, told in "then" and "now' for the characters, providing the backstories and how they got to where they are today. Lies, deceit, financial debt and mental disorders all play a role here, so if any of those are triggers, be warned.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

The Soulmate is a complex, twisted domestic thriller that scrutinizes the ties that bind true "soulmates" and the inevitable consequence of dark secrets and lies on that bond. With each additional book, Hepworth has carved out a well-deserved spot for herself in the genre. The Soulmate is another shining example of her expertise in delivering compulsively readable stories time and again.

Gabe and Pippa Gerard moved several times before finding and purchasing their dream home in a picturesque small town outside Melbourne. Sitting on a cliff high above the sea and rocks below, it feels like they can almost touch heaven - the perfect place to raise their two small daughters once they've fenced in the yard to keep them from wandering too close to the edge. Sadly, they soon learn their cliff is famous as a spot the lost and forlorn go to end their lives by jumping off the cliff. The first time Greg spots someone standing on the cliff's edge, he rushes out and is successful in talking them down. As time passes, he's instrumental in preventing more potential suicides elevating him to town hero status. Until the day he and Pippa see a woman walking to the edge, and Greg fails to save her. As Pippa watches her husband and the woman through her kitchen window, she's disturbed by what appears to be an escalating argument between the pair standing near the edge. Pippa's briefly distracted by her daughters, and when she turns back to look out the window again, her husband is standing alone with outstretched arms . . . and the woman is gone. What's wrong with this picture? Something about the scene is unsettling to Pippa, something she can't quite put her finger on but when interviewed by detectives she brushes her unease aside and collaborates Greg's version of events. However, when police release the woman's identity, Pippa is shocked and bewildered. Why hadn't Greg admitted to knowing this woman previously? What is the love of her life hiding? Pippa is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, but the truth may destroy her and her marriage.

The Soulmate is a tension laden domestic thriller that I challenge readers to put down once they start reading. This reader needed a few hours of alone time as I soon found myself fully engaged and burning through pages in this one. The story unfolds through two points of view - that of Pippa and Amanda aka the dead woman caught in limbo somewhere between life and death. Through alternating chapters of past and present, readers assimilate information on how these two women's path's crossed and what ties them together as they join forces vowing to expose the truth. Short, choppy chapters accentuates the action, drawing readers deeper into the multilayered plot line, and an insane pace heightens an undertone saturated with suspense and ominous vibes while the twists just keep slapping characters and readers in the face until the shocking end.

Once again, Hepworth has rendered a mesmerizing, character driven story that will hold readers spellbound from start to finish. Her ability to weave a highly entertaining story while shining a spotlight on major social issues such as mental illness, and the effect it can render on caretakers, as well as the havoc threatening the very foundation of dysfunctional families attempting to deal with the aftermath of trauma is commendable. The Soulmate is an intriguing, intimate domestic thriller - a story of marriage with its many levels and nuances, of true soulmates and how far the bonds that bind will stretch before snapping. I highly recommend this one to fans of character driven domestic thrillers. The Soulmate is another fantastic offering from Hepworth and sure to please.

Gabe and Pippa wanted to move away from it all and they buy a lovely home on th beach. This home is also located by "The Drop" which is a cliff where people are known to come and take their own lives.

Since moving in, a few people home come to The Drop to end their life. However, Gabe seems to have the touch and has been able to "talk people off the cliff" so to speak.

One day Pippa sees a women on The Drop. As usual, Gabe goes out to talk to her. Pippa thinks it will turn out like the others, but next thing she knows the woman is gone and Gabe is staring over the cliff, arms outstretched.

Pippa realizes Gabe knew the woman. Questions start to arise. And Pipps starts to doubt Gabe, wondering could her husband have pushed the woman over The Drop?

There are a lot of secrets and lies in this book. We get to look back into not only Pippa & Gabe's marriage, but also that of Amanda (the cliff jumper) and her husband, Max.

We get the story from both Pippa's perspective and Amanda's, and we get a dual timeline as well.

This book gripped me from the beginning. It dealt with a lot of topics including marriage issues, mental health, shady business dealings, issues with coworkers, to name a few. It was well done and Sally did not disappoint. There is a twist at the end that shook me, but once it is revealed everything makes sense!

Many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press (for an ARC) and MacMillan Audio (for an ALC) - I read this gripping psychological thriller in a day!

The Soulmate is a slow creeping mystery. The more Pippa tells of her life with Gabe, the more the cracks start showing because no marriage is perfect. But any issues they had seemed like everyday couple things.

Until someone they knew jumped. It tests Pippa’s marriage in unimaginable ways. She’s so easygoing that it’s hard to see her ruffled by anything. Yet she’s so wrapped up in Gabe that it’s all a bit too much. No man can be that good, right? So you, the reader, start questioning things.

I enjoyed watching this story unfold. I liked how the story slowly came together, that we didn’t know much about Gabe and Pippa’s marriage at first, other than it was idyllic. Then when we got to Amanda and Max, it was curious how their stories intertwined because Hepworth shows there is always more below the surface.

Cancel all your plans. The Soulmate is a twisty and enthralling read you won’t want to put down.

Thank you, St. Martin’s, for the ARC.

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Warning:
bipolar disorder, suicide and infidelity

This book is told from the POV of Amanda and Pippa. Amanda's POV is Before and After, while Pippa's POV is Then and Now.

Pippa and her husband move to a location known as The Drop. A beautiful house on the cliff of the seaside, where people come to jump off and commit suicide. Gabe has successfully talked people off the edge, literally, until one night when a woman appears. Gabe is trying to deal with the fact he couldn't save this woman, until the news is released who she is, and Pippa realizes that they both know her. Amanda's husband Max is dealing with the fact that his wife jumped. He wants to talk to Gabe because he believes that Amanda was not suicidal.

The Before and Then goes through how Amanda and Pippa met their husbands and the events leading up to the night of the incident. The After and Now is dealing with the aftermath of that night. This is the story of two women who thought they had met their soulmates and the strains those soulmates put on their marriages. I liked this book. It wasn't super-fast paced, but it was enough to keep me interested. I spent most of the book wondering what really happened on that cliff. Was it suicide, was it an accident or was it murder. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Enjoyed this psychological thriller a lot and I felt there was a new twist with almost every chapter I read (and I mean that in a good way!) It kept me guessing the whole way through! Sally Hepworth is a great author that I will continue to recommend with this title.

Sally Hepworth has written some amazing books, but alas, this is not one of them. Gabe and Pippa live in a house overlooking a cliff that is a local hotspot for suicides. One night, Gabe is talking to a woman on the edge while Pippa watches from the kitchen window. Pippa looks away for a moment, and when she looks back, the woman is gone. The rest of the story focuses on whether the woman jumped or was pushed.
I felt like the storyline was unique, but there were some implausible plot points. I found Pippa to be extremely unlikeable and naive. I’ve adored some of Sally Hepworth’s books, and I will definitely continue to read what she publishes. But this book was a miss for me,

I am a Sally Hepworth fan and this once again kept me entertained. I wouldn’t consider this a page burner but it does have quite a few twists and turns. and kept me wanting to know more. The character development was good and I liked how she went between characters and labeled the chapters of who was talking and what timeframe they were in.
My only con was I got confused on the little girls age, their responses seemed to be much older than I felt they were. They talked like older children. Yes, this does cover mental illness but I was very pleased with the ending that shows the positive of how you handle it.
Received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 4 stars.

How far will you be pushed to the edge?
🌊
Gave and Pippa live in a house overlooking a cliff with their two daughters. Unfortunately The Drop has become a place for people to go to end their lives, but fortunately for them Gabe lives in the house nearby because he’s successfully talked down several jumpers…until one day he’s unable to save Amanda. Pippa was watching from the window and saw parts of the events go down, but she wonders: did Amanda jump? Or was she pushed? Their perfect marriage starts to crack under the pressure of what happened on that day and more secrets are revealed along the way.
❤️
I can always count on @sallyhepworth to write an amazing adult thriller that keeps me guessing the entire time. This was a wild ride with several twists I didn’t see coming. Perfect for murder March bingo! Thanks to @librofm for the ALC + @bookofthemonth for the physical copy. This novel releases April 4 everywhere!

CW: suicide, death, mental illness, infidelity

How is it that I have not read any of Sally Hepworth’s books until now?! This is exactly the kind of book that I tend to enjoy with twists and turns that you don’t see coming and keep you glued to the pages. There were a few times that I actually gasped in surprise. This was an incredibly entertaining story that kept me guessing until the very end.

Gabe and Pippa live with their two young daughters in a house that happens to be near a cliff. This cliff has proven to be a popular spot for people hoping to commit suicide. Gabe has earned a reputation for being able to talk would-be jumpers out of the idea until he fails to save one lady. This story is told from both Pippa’s and Amanda’s perspectives. We learn about not only what is going on in the present time but also the history of their relationships and the years leading up to the day Amanda went over the cliff.

Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry did a marvelous job with this audiobook. I thought that each of the narrators had very pleasant voices that were very distinct so it was always easy to know which perspective was being told. I thought that they were each able to bring just the right amount of emotion to their reading to really bring the story to life. I am positive that their performances added to my enjoyment of this exciting story.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. I was drawn into the story right away and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out in the end. The characters were flawed but I really wanted to see things work out for them. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the very near future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth was an absolute page turner!
Once I picked up this book I devoured it in two days. Full of Secrets, betrayals and twists sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. This fast paced character driven book is Hepworth’s best yet.
This story is told in two POV’s Pippa and Amanda.
Pippa and Gabe live with their two daughters on a cliff known as “the spot” palace where suicide has been known to occur. Since Pippa and Gabe have moved there Gabe has been able to save lives. On one particular night a suicide occurs or does it? Pippa isn’t sure. This is a great thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4*
Pippa, Gabe and their two young daughters live on a house overlooking a cliff to the beach. Unfortunately, its a spot that people come to jump off of. Gabe has been able to talk down multiple people until one woman comes.

Story goes back and forth from Pippa and Amanda’s point of view. I really liked Amandas’s chapters.

Good thriller with lots of twists.

This was an interesting book. While I was annoyed at Pippa for most of the book, I did enjoy some of the perspectives she brought. I also really liked that Amanda had her voice. I do wish more of the story had been focused on Pippa after the events, and secrets were revealed, as I would've liked to have seen her flourish on her own.

This was very much a slow burn, and while it was enough to keep me engaged, I wish it had been sped up a bit.

4.5 /5

This book was excellent. The twists and turns never stopped coming. I didn’t want to put it down.
One of my favorite books I have read this year!!!