Thank you St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of the audiobook, The Soulmate, in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first read from Sally Hepworth whom I’ve heard great things about. The dual POVs kept me on my toes for this suspense/thriller and the general plot was engaging. I was not expecting a couple of the “twists” (a good thing!) but ultimately I felt the big pay off at the end was conscripted.

This is my first book by this author and although I did not love it, I enjoyed it and will be reading another book by her. There aren't many characters that I liked in this book which I think made me like the book more. The daughters were adorable, but that's because they were the only ones you could trust. Poor pip has been through it with the love of her life and she finds out the hard way about every event. The main twist of this book surprised me less than some smaller ones. Overall this audiobook was quick and entertaining!

TW: LOTS of suicide
Short, quick chapters with multiple POVs made this one really fast paced but it wasn’t my favorite Sally Hepworth (and I REALLY like her, so that’s sad).
There were a couple twists, some shocking, some predictable. I liked the two main female characters a lot and tended to dislike/distrust almost all the males.
It’s a great atmospheric novel with this cliff side home teetering in suspense with the characters.
The way the narration kind of emphasized the “cliffhanger endings” of basically every chapter got a little repetitive to listen to. It’s a good narration, but I’d probably almost rather have read the physical.

The Soulmate was my very first Sally Hepworth novel, but it definitely will not be my last. Reading it was an absolutely amazing adventure. Read it! Just don't get near any cliffs!

Loved the two narrators for this audiobook! The story was thrilling, and by the end, I cared as much about the relationships as I did the mystery. So many twists and such a fun read.

While I absolutely loved this book, the lack of diversity didn’t settle well with me. The plot however was wonderful and the layers of the onion that were this plot made this very enjoyable. Though I won’t read it again https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR7fcwXR/

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

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."

Soulmate by Sally Hepworth was a rollercoaster of a ride from start to the finish. Pip was a strong person her put up with a lot from Gabe. His affairs that resulted in a child, that Pip and Gabe are both raising together. The whole story made you want to find out the why Amanda "jumped" off the cliff. I also liked that they discussed Gabe having mental illness since you knew that his behavior was not right.

“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.

3.5⭐
I can always count on Sally Hepworth for solid and enjoyable domestic suspense. The Soulmate is no exception and one with an excellent start.

Pippa and Gabe bought their dream home with a million-dollar view outside of Melbourne. Their oceanside house sits near a cliff with a magnificent view, but there's a drop over jagged rocks below where people come to jump. In the year at their new home, Gabe has been very successful in talking to seven would-be jumpers to change their mind. He has becomes a local hero.

I feel somewhat nerve-racking because of the house. I'm scared of heights so there's no *beep* way I would live near a rock cliff (ocean or not), especially with young children like this couple. So far, the children haven't seen anyone taking their own lives yet (Can you imagine?!)

The day came when Gabe was unable to prevent a jump. Pippa witnessed the event through their kitchen window and begins to question what she saw.

Two interesting POVs and the Then and Now format gives readers the full story. I enjoy this for the most part but the reveal and ending were sort of eh for me. I know most friends love this one so I'm definitely an outlier. I mostly enjoy this so I think you should try it to find out for yourself.

I LOVE to hear a familiar voice and always enjoy Barrie Kreinik's narration. Jessica Douglas-Henry is excellent as well.

I listened to about 10% of this and just, didn't really care? The husband seems sketchy and that trope is so overdone... the woman "jumping" off the cliff was sort of anti-climatic. I just am not super drawn in to the story and don't necessarily feel compelled to continue.

Absolutely adored this book. This is my first ever Sally Hepworth book and it will not be the last. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for this ARC. I am usually quick with audiobooks but this was written so well and the narrators were fantastic so I devoured this.
This was a gripping, quick and easy read thriller! Completely entertaining from beginning to end. Alternating POVs, as well as “before and after” chapters from both POVs. One POV is from the deceased who is stuck in limbo before passing on, and Pippa, the wife of Gabe Gerard. Amanda, the deceased fell from "The Spot", which is a ledge/cliff behind Pippa and Gabe Gerard's home. Unfortunately, this spot is notorious for those that are contemplating ending their life at the hands of the cliff. However this is a unique circumstance due to the actual deal the of Amanda. This is unusual as Gabe has talked 7 strangers off of the ledge.
The story takes a quick turn once the identity of the deceased woman is released. Pippa realizes that her lovely husband Gave, new the woman who plummeted to hear death. The woman is the wife of Gabe's former boss, Max, and things escalate from there.
Secrets, betrayals, and twists galore, it is quite an exciting read. Recommended to read anyone that is looking to escape any reading slump. This was a phenomenal read.

Trigger Warnings: Discussions surrounding suicide, murder, adultery, substance overdose, and mental illness.

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!

Ooh this had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the dual timelines and narrators (my favorite tropes). This story was told as a jigsaw- as the plot progressed we were given more pieces to complete the puzzle. That ending- wow. I had no idea where this story was going and it was such an enjoyable ride.

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

Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin’s press
I feel like this is the most hyped ARC I have been granted, and I was so excited to hear the story.
I came to fully understand what domestic thriller and atmospheric thriller mean. Sally Hepworth really sucked me into the world of Pippa and the lot.
To me this could have been a solid 3 star (still a good book, that I would recommend to people who like thrillers) because if it weren’t for the stellar narration, particularly the voice of Pippa (Barrie Kreinik) I might have been a little bored waiting for the bigger twists to be revealed. I enjoyed the listening of this story so much. I am giving The Soulmate audiobook 4 stars because that is the format I experienced. But I feel confident giving the book as a whole the same 4 stars, because the tone of the of the final few chapters took me by surprise and was deeply satisfying 🍿👏🏽

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Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the ALC of The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth! Ms.Hepworth is one of those authors that is underrated—her books haven’t let me down yet, and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the 2 different POVs and the different timelines. They flowed nicely without getting confusing or jumbled up. I also really liked the 2 narrators. Looking forward to getting to more books of hers that are on my TBR as well as what she puts out in the future!

Sally Hepworth has done it again! Her writing wants you to keep reading and never put the book down.

A beautiful home on a cliff with a beautiful view. Only think is, that the cliff is known for people to commit suicide. Gabe, Pippa’s perfect husband rescues person after person. Except, he can’t save the latest attempt. What secrets lay on the cliff and how far will they go?

I initially gave this 4.75 ⭐️ but I’m changing my mind and giving it 5! Wow! If I had more time, I probably would have read this in like 2 sittings. What an excellent domestic thriller- there were multiple twists and I didn’t see a single one coming. The pacing was spot on for me. I absolutely loved the writing style and can’t wait to read more from this author. Highly recommend!