This one was fun! Told through the perspectives of two women, from the time before and after a major accident, this story unraveled in a thrilling way and kept the listener on their toes. When you feel like you’ve finally caught up, that you’ve figured everything out, this book gives you one more reveal. For lovers of thrillers, this one is a quick read or listen!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listen!

What a fun read. This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me turning pages. I loved the short chapters, dual first person, and dual timeline. I thought it brought a lot to the storyline. Give me family drama, secrets, and suspense any day! The mind games that each of the characters played while they were all hiding their own secrets made it that much more suspenseful. There were some heavy topics that were discussed throughout such as suicide and mental health. The twists at the end I did not see coming, good job! I thought this was one of Sally Hepworth’s better books.

Sally Hepworth's books are very hit or miss for me, but this one did sound really intriguing! The book was entertaining, but at the same time, I didn't feel terribly connected to the story and fear it will be somewhat forgettable. Ultimately, just not for me.

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 way because it is so pertinent and present in people’s lives these days. This is a thought-provoking novel and the audiobook version is one you won’t want to miss! Narrated by Barrie Kreinik and Joseph Douglas-Henry, this duo truly brings the story to life in all it’s tension-packed glory! They are incredible voice actors!

Thank you to NetGaelly, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honesty review.

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.

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.

*3.5 stars*

The Soulmate was a really "middle of the line" domestic suspense for me. The audiobook narrators were excellent and really made me want to keep listening. I loved the dual perspectives of Pippa and Amanda and having Amanda as a MC/narrator was a really interesting and unique POV.

The atmosphere of "the drop" as the primary setting was creepy and off-putting but in a good way. It added an air of mystery and suspense throughout the story. I don't know if I would have been able to stay in house with that kind of vibe attached to it- especially with kids.

Speaking of the kids- what the what?! I was shocked during a certain plot twist (obviously can't give it away but IYKYK) and truly did not see that coming. I feel like I lost traction in the story at that point though because I could not get on board with Pippa and her decisions.

The ending fell a bit flat. I wasn't super surprised with the twist and I feel like there are still a lot of plot holes.

I feel like the audiobook version saved this one for me. There were two narrators so it was easy to follow along with the dual POV. The voices fit the characters really well and the flow and pacing was really smooth. The story is set in Australia and the author is from Melbourne so, obviously, the narrators had the Aussie accent which I am a sucker for.

Read/Listen if you like:
- Dual POV
- Dual timelines
- Domestic suspense
- Suspicious good guys
- Australian accents
- Mystery/suspense vs "thriller"
- Eerie settings

My rating explained (CAWPILE method):
Characters- 6, Atmosphere-7, Writing (Narration): 8, Plot-7, Intrigue-7, Logic-6, Enjoyment-7= 48/7=6.85= 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillion Audio, the author, and the narrators for an ALC of this story in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

If you’re looking for a brain teasing mystery to entertain you this week, look no further than The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth.

This book releases tomorrow, April 4, but I was lucky enough to have been given an ALC through @netgalley and @macmillan.audio and, because it was a @bookofthemonth offering for March, I had an early release physical copy. I went back and forth between the audio and the physical for this one and I loved both formats. Hepworth’s narratives work really well with audio, and I love that her short chapters make it easy to squeeze a few pages in at a time.

This was a fun mystery because I never could figure it out 100%. I had inklings, and was on the right track with many things, but I still was surprised by the exact twists. Another thing I love about Hepworth is that her mysteries are very much character studies and look at human behaviour and relationship dynamics. The first person POV allows for the characters to slowly reveal themselves. Her last book that I read was The Mother-In-Law, and I really enjoyed that one too.

No spoilers- I will phrase this in a way that gives nothing away but stop reading here if you want to go in 💯 blind.
I thought there was going to be more to Asha’s story.

A solid 3.5 star read - definitely recommend.

I had been intending to read Sally Hepworth for a long time, ever since I watched a virtual interview with her when The Good Sister was published. Time and many other books got in the way. When I saw the cover of The Soulmate I was immediately ‘drawn’ to the cliff edge setting expecting something reminiscent of a classic Gothic. This was quite different, but grabbed me and kept my attention from the first lines.
We get an in-depth, past and present look at the marriages of 2 couples, Gabe and Pippa, and Max and Amanda. Both couples supposedly have married their soulmates. That seems questionable as the story opens with Amanda plunging to her death off the cliff adjacent to Gabe and Pippa’s house after engaging in a conversation or an argument with Gabe with Pippa looking on. It’s not exactly a spoiler to say these couples lives have intersected in the past. There are so many twists and turns in their individual and collective stories that guessing is pointless. This is a fast paced read and one should just enjoy the ride.
The audiobook was a special treat. The narrators, Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry, are both superb and have narrated prior Hepworth novels. Chapters are either front the POV of Pippa or Amanda and are identified as such making it immensely easy to follow. I found myself staying with the book far longer than planned at each session, both due to the story and how much I enjoyed the narration.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review the advance copy of the audiobook.

The Soulmate was full of twists and turns. It was a quick and easy read that kept me guessing the whole time. Each chapter gave a different POV and was necessary for getting the full scope of the story. This was the first book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth, and it won’t be the last! Audiobook was wonderful. The narration was perfect and didn’t distract from the story line!

This story kept me on my toes; I did not see the ending coming. While listening to the book, I thought that one of the characters murdered the other and we would figure out why; boy was I wrong. The characters that were true soulmates were not who I thought. Sometimes you need to be your own hero.

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https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/60784540

This was 3⭐️ story for me

Sally’s novels are always entertaining, that’s a given.
However, I found this one to be “out there” and it didn’t quite captivate my attention as a thriller normally would. I got lost sometimes in the who’s who and had to refocus on the characters… it’s hard to say what part of the story had me losing interest, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

I must say, the narrators did a great job and at some points I could picture Sally as Pippa in my mind… maybe it was the narrator’s voice? Or maybe via Instagram knowing that Mr Hepworth is the child rearing parent? I just had Pippa as Sally in my mind, so that was an interesting feature of the story in my brain.

I know a lot of people have or will enjoy this. It’s got a good plot, an end with a twist and a shifting POV from the wives - one who is alive, the other who has died. Either way, the story will pass the time and keep you entertained. I’m not disappointed that I took the time to read this one, I think I just wanted more THRILL after all the hype.

I want to thank NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and the publisher for providing me with an audiobook version of this publication. In return, I have promised to provide an unbiased review.

Can you trust your husband?

When a woman jumps to her death outside Pippa and Gabe’s seaside home, her suicide unravels the delicate scaffolding of their marriage.

Themes explored in the book include mental illness, marriage, lies, and infidelity.

This was a slow-burn domestic suspense like Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. It was a good, easy listen and I enjoyed the daughters and domestic focus.

The reveals were interesting but somewhat expected and drawn out. Overall, I would recommend to those who love domestic suspense, but not necessarily to my adrenaline-loving thriller lovers.

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

Hands down my favorite book by this author. I devoured this book in a day. I couldn’t put it down (or stop listening) I loved the different timelines and that the pov’s went from the two women. The chapters are quick so it was easy to say “just one more chapter” all the way through the book.

Tw: Mental Illness and Suicide

TW ⚠️: suicide, mental illness, violence

pov: your backyard is one of the most popular suicide cliffs in Australia and the most recent “victim” happened to be the wife of your husband’s shady ex-boss, the same man you shared a secret intimate moment with.

Pippa and Gabe Gerard are a married couple with two young daughters. The last few years have been rocky as they navigate the highs and lows of marriage, mostly due to Gabe’s highs and lows of mental illness. Gabe, a landscaper, was offered a job working for a wealthy businessman, Max, at a startup business. In the early days, the money wasn’t always clean and the company had secrets of its own, which led to Gabe’s dismissal and the Gerard’s move to a sleepy town with an infamous cliff in their backyard. In the midst of their marital problems, Pippa has a secret moment with Max, Amanda’s husband. It appears Amanda knew something happened before her death, but not what exactly. Amanda ends up at the cliff either purposely or by pure coincidence. Pippa can’t get over seeing seeing the way Gabe’s outstretched hands looked at the moment Amanda “jumped.” Was this really an unfortunate coincidence of suicide or something more sinister?

I ended up reading this one with my eyeballs instead of my earholes so I can’t comment on the audiobook or narrator but the e-ARC was fantastic. I noted a few minor errors which were probably fixed prior to publication. The ending was mind blowing and I’ve been thinking about it for days. This book has so many great twists and I couldn’t put it down!

I loved how the POVs alternated between multiple characters and then vs. now, including Amanda after death as if she’s a floating ghost peeking in on the characters post-death and providing the missing insight on what she was thinking and doing prior to her death. It was like all of the puzzle pieces were slowly being put together. The short chapters were also great. TEAM SHORT CHAPTERS FOREVER!

I’m glad I also snagged a Book of the Month copy because this one was so good!

Thank you to SMP, Macmillan Audio, Sally, and NetGalley for the advance reader and listener copies in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you MacMillan audio, Sally Hepworth, and Netgalley for this audio book in exchange for an honest review. Book release date April 4, 2023

I really enjoy Sally’s writing and she will always be a go to author for me. I love the plot twists and how you think you figure it out but I do not get it all. The overall story was very engaging and living close to areas with a few cliff drops made it a bit believable. I enjoyed the different POV and it flipped where I was enjoying Pippa’s more and at the end I wanted more of Amanda’s story.
I still really liked this one but took away one star because there were a few too many twists and details that didn’t quite fit.
I also didn’t like ANY of the main characters - that may have been the point but I enjoy rooting for someone.

Started off a little slow, but then it picked up speed!!! Once it got going it was hard to put down!! Definitely didn’t see the ending coming!!

***I received a ARC copy from NetGalley***

Overall I liked this book, but it wasn't quite as thrilling as I had hoped. It was more of family drama dealing with infidelity, secrets and lies, and mental illness, and the results of our actions. It was written from dual viewpoints in the present and the past but in an unusual way. One narrator was Pippa, who lived with her husband Gabe in the house at the top of the cliff. The other was Amanda, the woman who died went she jumped off the cliff in the beginning of the book. She hasn't moved on, and she is watching the characters and talking to us from beyond. I found her to be very believable and sympathetic. The character of Pippa seemed to be in denial and overlooked a lot more of Gabe's actions than I would have. I guess love makes us do strange things sometimes. The narrators did an excellent job bringing these characters to life. The accents were good and the tempo was perfect. There was no problem understanding them or knowing who was talking. The book developed a little slowly for my taste but the ending was excellent. There were several twists and unexpected revelations that redeemed the book for me.

Sally Hepworth is firmly on my auto read list, and her newest thriller certainly did not disappoint. The Soulmate is a wild ride, with several twists that I never saw coming and were just fantastic. This is told in two POV’s, Pippa and Amanda, there are short chapters which are always great, but what I loved the most was how mental illness was covered in here, it was just so thoughtful and very well done. Overall this was such a great read that I finished in one sitting, one because I was thoroughly enjoying it but also because I had to know how it would end. I loved this one so much and cannot recommend it enough.

I want to also note that I listened to this one via audio and thought it was so well done, narrators Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry brought the story to life, capturing the emotions of both Pippa and Amanda. They also built the suspense very well and I absolutely recommend listening to it if you can.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy and MacMillan Audio for the ALC to review. Pub date is 4/4, and trust me, you need this one on your list!

Pippa and Gabe’s house is near a spot called “the drop” where many people come to end their lives. Gabe is amazing at talking to people and convincing them not to jump. However, this time he can’t convince the woman to stay. When Pippa finds out it was Amanda that fell off the cliff, she wonders if Amanda really jumped or if her husband pushed her off.

Hepworth tells the story in a dual timeline alternating between Amanda and Pippa’s POVs. The dual timeline really made the story for me. The story is full of lies, deceit, and marriages. I found myself very interested in the past timeline and the evolution of the mental illness. The story is fast-paced with short chapters that draw you in. The narration was great as well. I didn’t feel lost or confused about which character’s POV it was from, which I sometimes do with audiobooks. This was my first book Hepworth, and it definitely won’t be my last. I give it 4/5 stars.