The Soulmate
A Novel
by Sally Hepworth
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Apr 04 2023 | Archive Date Apr 18 2023
Description
“One of the best thrillers of the year”—The New York Times
"The book is many things: a crime story, a psychological study, a blueprint for how and when to mete out information in a thriller. But most of all it is an inquiry into the mysteries of marriage and commitment, and into what we owe our spouses and one another." --The New York Times Book Review
Prepare yourself for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in this next book from the bestselling author of The Good Sister and The Younger Wife.
Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’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. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.
Until one day, he doesn’t. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral. . . .Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate . . . lie? As the perfect façade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781250229700 |
PRICE | $28.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 352 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
When a book keeps you up all night, you know it’s a worthy 5 star read. In true Hepworth fashion, she builds a world and then slowly and suspensefully dismantles it leaving you guessing with every twist.
Pippa and Gabe move to a cottage alongside a cliff in a dreamy coastal town. What they didn’t realize is that this home is right near a cliff referred to as “the drop” where many people come to commit suicide. At first, Gabe is somewhat of a hero-literally talking people off the edge. Until one night a woman shows up at The Drop and Pippa sees Gabe with her through the window. Within a moment the woman disappears and Gabe’s arms are outstretched and palms it. There’s no way the savior Gabe would have pushed her! Did she fall? What happened? The rest is the best kind of crazy twisting and turning that you want in a thriller told from both Pippa’s and the ( now) dead woman’s POV. Love is a crazy ride when you spend your your time wondering if your husband is now a murderer. What secrets were “pushed” into oblivion.
The Soulmate is so much more than I expected! I could not put it down!! Told from two different viewpoints and in past and present tense. The story line grabs hold of your interest and keeps you wanting more and more until the very end.
Masterfully written!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and St. Martin’s Press for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner
When you get your hands on a copy of Sally Hepworths upcoming release which also happens to be one of your MOST anticipated reads of 2023 ... you read it IMMEDIATELY!
Well my friends, she does it again. Annnnd, she got me with those plot twists! Damn!! I for one LOVED the direction she took with this story. I won't give anything away, no worries. Spoilers are lame!!
I am a HUGE fan of alternating chapters between characters and the way this was done was EXCELLENT! I was completely engaged in this story and did not see that ending coming. What the heck!?
Final thoughts, excellent fast paced read, highly recommend! Add this to your list for April 2023!!
Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this copy!
Another great Sally Hepworth novel. Loved the characters and kept. me guessing until the end. Read it in one day!
I could not put this one down, finishing it in one day. It has everything--setting in a seaside town in Australia, well-developed characters that are likable, though flawed, more than one mystery--very satisfying read. Loved it!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this advance copy for me to read and review.
The Soulmate captured my attention from the start, with a woman standing on a cliff (and known jumping spot) overlooking the ocean, within sight of the Gerard home. Told between alternating views from the past and present, we learn the twists and turns of the story and how the woman may be connected to Gabe Gerard. While Gabe and his wife Pippa may have a picture-perfect life surrounded by supportive family and friends, the facade is shattered that night, and I was left guessing until the end how the story would end.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this copy.
I absolutely love all of Sally Hepworth’s books! I loved the twists and turns of the book. I thought there was really great character development. I read it very quickly because I couldn’t put it down!
I could not put this book down! Like the other Sally Hepworth books I’ve read, it seamlessly incorporates mystery, family/relationship struggles and a sense of humor. I also left the book with some actionable advice for my own life! Highly recommend.
There is something about Sally Hepworth's writing that I find to be fully immersive, making it nearly impossible to put her books down. The Soulmate had me hooked from the first page, its fast pace mixed with multiple twists and turns, topped with character's lives that are easy to get invested in - this book is sure to be a favourite for Domestic Suspense fans!
Pippa and Gabe have moved to a beautiful home located on a steep cliff with a stunning ocean view. While they both wondered how they possibly got a million dollar view without the price tag, it's not long until they find out that this cliff is a commonplace where many lose their lives to Suicide and it's known as The Drop. Gabe becomes somewhat of a local hero after he decides to go out and talk with many of those who visit the cliff, the Police are even impressed with his ability to save lives. One day, Pippa notices a woman approach the drop and as usual she warns Gabe, who makes his way outside while Pippa calls the Police. Pippa briefly looks away from the window facing the drop and when she looks back, Gabe is standing on the cliff by himself in a questionable position. In effort to not doubt her husband, she attempts to convince herself that nothing is amiss and that she just imagined this because she's watched Gabe save so many lives in the past, he couldn't possibly have pushed the woman.
The story is presented in dual POV with alternating timelines. We get the perspective of Pippa and Amanda, being the woman that was at the drop. The two timelines of Amanda's were interesting and I liked that we got the perspective of her from her past and present, but also her viewpoint from the afterlife which is perfectly wound into this complex story. Sally Hepworth really does this best, her ability to make a the most intricate stories palpable and easy to follow along with. I truly cannot get over the journey this book took me on, it surprised me more than once, every timeline in the story was well executed and believable. The story ended in a way that made sense while still having a shocking element.
The Soulmate releases April 4, 2023 and I'm so excited for my fellow Domestic Suspense/Thriller lovers to get their hands on another epic and twisty tale from Sally Hepworth.
Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for this ARC version of The Soulmate.
Sally Hepworth knows how to write a thriller. This is my second book by her and she grabs your attention right from the start.
This story is about Gabe and Pippa who recently relocated to a beach town. They live up on the cliff and over the past year learned the out their back door is the area called “The Drop”, where many have come to commit suicide over the years.
Gabe has interceded on many attempts and always succeeded in saving the poor soul who thought that life will be better without them. One day a woman arrived at The Drop and Pippa yelled to Gabe to go help her but he doesn’t succeed.
The story that leads off from this point is intricate and captivating. The backstory that leads up to this point has many twists and turns that unravel the secrets that both Gabe and Pippa have hidden.
Hepworth’s brilliant writing keeps you intrigued from start to finish. I highly recommend this book for any thriller lover out there!
Fantastic book! My favorite by this author so far!! Wow! It had a little bit of everything...suspense, thrill, domestic drama and a serious topic of discussion.
I will start by saying this book brought many emotions to the surface. I even had tears towards the end. Along with its capacity to make me feel, it was incredibly suspenseful. I just had to know what happened. And the ending was superb. It wrapped up all of the loose ends and answered all of the questions. Everything made sense.
Definitely read this one if you enjoy domestic thrillers with some character driven drama. The characters are so well carved out, I felt like I knew them intimately. Loved the dual perspectives and time lines format. Also loved that one of the character perspectives was after her death.
A gracious thank you to #stmartinspress and #netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #thesoulmate #sallyhepworth
There are few authors who are able to achieve what Sally Hepworth has done with The Soulmate! She managed to evoke every emotion under the sun from me. Suspense, fear, anger, sadness, jealousy, compassion, empathy…. The list goes on! I simply could not put this down. The relationships between Amanda & Max and Gabe & Pippa were so different, yet they also felt familiar and I found myself commiserating with them on more than one occasion. The POV style of writing was also executed perfectly!
Overall, I could not recommend this book enough! It was unique from anything else Ive read this year and I can’t stop thinking about it. This was actually the first Sally Hepworth novel I’ve read and it certainly won’t be the last! The Soulmate is definitely in the running for my favorite book of the year!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC!
WOW, Sally Hepworth does it again. The way she weaves her stories from beginning to end and then pulls it all together in a neat little package with a bow on it just blows my mind. Another one of her books I could not put down.
This is told from a 2 person point of view. that goes between past and present and is easy to follow.
Thank you #NetGalley #StMartinsPress and #SallyHepworth for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
#TheSoulMate
Another great read from Sally Hepworth!
The things people will justify and ignore when their soulmate is the one involved. Pippa has forgiven Gabe so much and they seem to be on a upswing when the woman appears on the cliff. This mystery women is the beginning of the unraveling of the tale of love, loyalty, fidelity and murder. But who is at fault and how will it end?
The undercurrent of instability ran throughout this novel. As a reader you are never sure how to feel about the characters. Are they good and pure of wrong doing or are their bad choices actually calculated decisions designed to hurt. Brilliantly written and I had to read in one sitting to find out how it ends,
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
There are many choices in literature. Sally Hepworth will always be my first choice. .I loved the alternating time used to paint the story line. It was easy to follow different characters parts.. The story unfolded slowly but there many the characters were believable as well as unbelievable. Well written - couldn't put it down !
What a page-turner! This was a very well-written book with plenty of tension and my jaw dropped a few times! Every chapter made me want to keep reading, and I literally read the entire thing in one evening and stayed up til 2am because I couldn't put it down. The past and present timelines were woven together seamlessly and I loved the different POVs. The line-level writing was spectacular and many lines made me pause to read over them again or highlight them because they were that good and resonated that much. It was a twisty, thrilling ride right from beginning to end, and the post-climax wrap-up was very well executed. I can see why the author is a NYT Bestseller!
We find out right away what happened; the trick is figuring out how and why it happened, and so we go on this tension-ridden journey with two of the main characters. There are so many curiosity seeds dropped, which had me theorizing the whole way, and jaw-dropping secrets revealed at exactly the right time.
So, so good! I'll be recommending it widely!
5 stars
What a read!! Sally Hepworth is a gifted writer. She has mastered the art of properly placing clues to the overall finale and creating so much tension you simply have to keep turning the pages. I loved this book.
I loved the balance between perspectives. Now vs then, as well as Amanda who’s character dies at the beginning we get to hear from her in the past as well as in the present “death.” I thought it was brilliant. The last 70 pages of the book nearly turned themselves. I couldn’t put the books down.
Highly recommend and will definitely be buying a hard copy for myself.
I have never come across a Sally Hepworth book that I didn't like and The Soulmate was no different. From the first word to the last, this book was completely captivating. I found this book to be the perfect blend of domesticity and mystery. I think the best aspect of this work is that the family unit isn't always what it seems. The writing is not at all obvious or predictable which is all the more alluring. This book was definitely on my top ten of this year. A title you won't want to miss.
I love Sally Hepworth books so I was very excited to receive this advanced copy and it did not disappoint!
This book really kept my interest as it was told from two narratives, Pippa, the wife, and Amanda, the deceased victim, and delves into the idea of soulmates through the view of two very different marriages.
Loved, loved, loved this book.
Thank you to netgalley and St Martins Peess for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
A riveting, poignant, suspenseful look at the highs and the lows of love, marriage, and the opening of one’s heart, (as raw and vulnerable as it gets) to the dreams and dispositions of another.
A particular other. (And what a difference that choice can make).
Told in the first person POV voice of two women, Pippa and Amanda, who alternate back and forth in time between ‘Now” and “Then’, it’s clear each woman is capable of feeling deep love, and has cast her lot alongside another. That’s where the similarity ends, however, as Pippa, a lawyer and a young mother, struggles with the vagaries of her breathtakingly beautiful husband Gabe, whose irregular and unpredictable behavior is a torment and a constant trial laid out for her loyalty and her love.
“Gabe could hurt me.
But he could also make me fly.”
Amanda, on the other hand, is a fifty-two-year old photographer, married to Max, a wealthy media mogul who appears, on the surface, to be a good man, a steady and dependable man, richly deserving of her fidelity. Or is he?
As Pippa, (owner, with Gabe, of an atmospheric and dangerously precipitous cliff-top house), finds the tension in her life skyrocket in parallel with Gabe’s inescapable propensities, Amanda and her story (and the connection between the two narratives) begins to weave mysteriously around it all, setting the stage for an absorbing and shadowy showdown of sorts, which the reader is led to and left at the very edge of - a fitting ending for a nail-biting finale.
As the author plays with her literary puzzle and what it all implies to the weightiness of loaded terms such as “loyalty’, “fidelity”, and “soulmate”, questions cannot help but surface.
How much of one’s self is safely submergible in another?
Does the answer depend on the “worthiness” of ones choice?
Do each of us truly have a choice, or is there one (and only one) “soulmate” out there for us to claim?
A wonderfully challenging read, I loved this book, - slowly setting the stage for passion, drama, suspense and most of all, a mass of tender contradictions - compelling the reader to bear witness to the distance that can span between the achingly vivid helplessness, or the quiet euphoria, experienced by a woman in love, at a single point in time, each of us falling anywhere (and potentially everywhere) across such a divide, in itself as dangerous as it can be divinely welcoming.
A great big thank you to @Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
Another winner from Sally Hepworth! I absolutely loved how the story slowly unfolded, from different POVs and going back and forth in time to tie everything together. Would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking for a domestic thriller!
This was such a beautiful story. I loved it. I was hooked right away and couldn’t put it down. The characters were real. The author wrote and amazing book and I know it’ll do well when it gets released. Thank you to st martins press and netgalley for allowing me to review this amazing book.
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