| Title | : | The Soulmate |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1250229715 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781250229717 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 352 |
| Publication | : | First published October 25, 2022 |
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.
The Soulmate Reviews
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Soulmate literally took my breath away and made me cancel my entire Sunday plans! I just sat as my face glued to my e-reader, excitedly devouring each chapter till the late night.
This book has tragic love stories, reflecting dark sense of humor of Hepworth perfectly! Twists are mostly surprising and unforeseen! Especially the last one: broke my heart and made me scream a lot!
This book is about what women can do when they hopelessly and a little madly in love! It’s great approach to the anatomy of toxic and dysfunctional relationships, real pain and deep suffering to deal with mental illnesses!
It affected me more than I expected! This is great psychological thriller but also heart wrenching romance
Here’s quick recap of the plot:
Pippa and Gabe Gerard are happily married for seven years, with two adorable daughters, buying their dream house that resides at cliffside in a sleepy, small coastal town outside Melbourne. Pippa’s family including her parents, her newly expecting sister and her wife living close to them. They seem like picture perfect family.
Gabe is stay at home father, taking care of their children after a tragic incident he’s getting through and Pippa is estate lawyer, practical fixer, breadwinner of the family.
They didn’t realize their house is located so close to the cliff which is a POPULAR SUICIDE POINT to jump off! One day Gabe sees a person close to the cliff and he approaches to talk with him. After nearly seven hours later, the man walks away! Gabe saves his life! And he convinces six other people not to jump, too! He becomes a local hero, giving an interview to the newspaper!
But one day a woman in early fifties approaches to their house. Pippa watches Gabe and the mysterious woman through the window: seeing her husband arms outstretched, palms facing out, standing close to the woman. And woman falls down! Did she really jump or was she pushed down? But her kind hearted husband cannot be involved in something so sinister, can he?
Could Pippa see things from different perspective? Even though the woman’s death is ruled as suicide, there’s something rattling Pippa that she cannot put finger on!
When she learns the identity of the woman, her heart sinks! She knows the woman before and this information can ruin everything about their lives.
We’re going back and forth and read the events from two POVs including Pippa and Amanda ( dead woman)! Their perspectives give us enough information about secrets, lies they kept about their marriages. Nothing as it seems and get ready to expect the unexpected!
Overall: as always I give any Sally Hepworth book five stars! I’m loyal to my tradition so I’m giving my well deserved, five deliciously twisty, heartbreaking, psychological thriller stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this AMAZING digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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More and more, I've really come to enjoy Sally Hepworth's brand of domestic suspense, and The Soulmate is another worthy one to add to the collection.
Pippa and Gabe's perfect house is situated on a cliff, with sweeping views and a dramatic drop down to the jagged rocks and sea below. That's why they always warn their children to stay away from the edge. But the spot attracts unwanted attention, with people coming there to end their lives. Up till now, Gabe has managed to talk all of them from jumping, but his luck has finally run out. But when Pippa learns that the woman who jumped has a connection to Gabe, she starts to wonder if she really knows her husband at all.
Dun dun dun! Okay, that premise sounds awesome. I can't help but be drawn in, and it turned out to be a riveting read. This easily could've been one of those books I read in one sitting if I had the time.
But to properly enjoy this, I think it's important to set the right expectations. This book isn't a mystery or thriller by any means. It's more of a domestic drama, with the narrative told in a nonlinear fashion to add that necessary bit of suspense. And it works. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, even though there was nothing that shocking or crazy going on.
Hepworth has a way of sketching out the dynamics in dysfunctional families that just hooks the reader. This time, it's a marriage that seems perfect from the outside, but the flaws are there once you peel away the layers. Add to that children, extended families, and a dose of mystery, and it makes the whole thing very fun and exciting.
As for the big reveal at the end, there really wasn't anything like that. While everything is explained and resolved, there certainly weren't any jaw-dropping or even eyebrow-raising moments. But it still feels like a satisfying conclusion.
This is the third Sally Hepworth I've read, and now that I have my expectations set correctly, I've really come to enjoy her stories and writing style. Whenever I want a family drama with a dash of suspense mixed in, she's definitely an author I reach for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Good Sister
The Younger Wife
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Garbled imitation of classic tropes in an ambitious novel that checks a lot of boxes but doesn't come together
The Soulmate starts off with a married couple, Gabe and Pippa, who have moved to a house atop a cliff. It is a hazardous spot where the mentally ill are known to take their lives. Since moving to the house, Gabe meets each potential jumper and talks him or her away from the ledge. This time, a woman falls from the cliff. Only Gabe knew this woman. Did she really jump or was she pushed? And what other secrets will be revealed?
This book was underwhelming primarily as a result of its characters. The Soulmate has two narrators and two timelines (a then and a now timeline). It felt like the author was trying to create morally grey characters, imperfect people; however, the characters were just not likeable.
Thinking back to morally grey or "bad" characters that I loved, they seem to share three common characteristics: intelligence, great quotes, and humor. But these elements were missing in The Soulmate, leaving the reader with no one to invest in.
In terms of storytelling, it also felt like this book was aiming to read like Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, but the prose didn't work. At the very outset, we know that someone died, and then we go back in time and have all of these revelations.
Unfortunately, the prose with all of its very short sentences set a tone of hysteria. And the journey through this book wasn't enjoyable as the characters were so underdeveloped.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
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The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
If I could have read this in one sitting I would have done so but I needed to sleep and life can't stop just because I don't want to put a book down. The mostly short chapters each had me wanting to keep on going to the next one. It was a bit of a brain twister as I tried to put the characters at the right place in time during the chapters taking place in the past but this is one book where I kind of enjoyed the challenge. The various times in the past mixed with the present day added to the mystery in a way that I didn't find frustrating.
Gabe and Pippa Gerard have two young daughters and now live in a cottage on a cliff located in a sleepy coastal town outside Melbourne. They've lived in a lot of houses during their short marriage and Gabe's had a lot of jobs since Pippa has known him. Now lawyer Pippa is supporting the family and Gabe is the primary child minder in the family. Things seem to be going well for them, especially since Gabe seems to have found his calling. Their cliff is known as a jump off place for those who don't want to live anymore and since they've lived in this cottage, Gabe has talked seven people out of jumping. He's in the papers and the townspeople know him for being a hero who saves lives.
Then a woman shows up on the cliff, Gage tries talk her down and she goes over the cliff. At least that is what Pippa hopes really happened but she's not sure. Something is not right with what she saw and Gabe is acting strange. Hopefully the police will rule the woman's death a suicide, it was a suicide wasn't it?
We have two narrators, Pippa and the dead woman and we see the events of this story through their eyes, now and in the past. Both woman love their husbands, faults and all. Fidelity and loyalty play a part in this story. Can these women trust their husbands? Can their husbands trust their wives. This is very much a character study and with a huge focus on marriage and partnership. How strong are the bonds within each relationship? Just how much can each partner take?
Pub Apr 4, 2023
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. -
Twisted Obsessions
3.75 stars
“I did not come here to die.”
In The Soulmate, Sally Hepworth explores the (mis)perceptions of a perfect marriage. What those see on the outside isn't so perfect behind closed doors.
Two couples. A suspicious suicide, deception, secrets, and lies are exposed as the reader discovers what led to a character’s death.
Narrated by Pippa and Amanda, I enjoyed both stories. I didn’t love the characters, but I didn’t hate them. Hepworth does a solid job of showing not only the good and bad sides of a marriage but also the good and bad sides of the characters. In the beginning, I was more intrigued by Pippa, but by the end, I wanted more of Amanda.
Hepworth dangles details about their marriages without fully giving away what truly is going on until the end. The structure kept me glued to the pages; however, at the same time, the plot revolved around twists, some of which surprised me and others that were just irksome and/or OTT. At the same time, they sure do add to the drama!
In addition to exploring infidelity, love, and marriage, Hepworth also illustrates the impact of mental illness on a marriage.
The Soulmate is a compulsively readable novel that I had to pull myself away from. It is fast-paced and intriguing. It is also very easy to read. I could have done with fewer twists, but overall, this was a win for me!
TW: Infidelity and Mental Illness
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. -
When I see a favorite author is releasing a new book-I get excited! But, only a FEW of those books go STRAIGHT to the top of my TBR list, no matter how far out the publication date is!!
Sally Hepworth-Queen of DOMESTIC SUSPENSE is one of those authors!!
First take a look at the gorgeous cover.
That is a visual of “The Drop”-a view that people often pause to admire while strolling on Millionaire’s Walk, a sandy walking trail in Portsea-a sleepy coastal town a couple of hours outside of Melbourne.
But, it has also become a popular place for people to come to end their lives. Ragged cliffs above the ocean, 30 meters below- You DON’T survive the fall.
Gabe and Pippa had a fortuitous meeting. It was pretty much “love at first sight”- something that would often bother me in a ROMANCE book-but this book is called “The Soulmate”.
Intoxicating to one another- Yin and Yang.
But their life together has had its challenges, as well.
Their new cliff side home-20 meters from “The Drop” is meant to be a fresh start, for the couple and their two young daughters, Freya and Asha, and at first it is.
Gabe becomes a local hero of sorts when he talks someone down from the ledge. And, then he succeeds time and time again until the day he doesn’t. He is devastated.
The Police rule it a Suicide-but the Victim’s husband swears that Amanda wouldn’t jump!
And, when Pippa realizes that Gabe knew this woman- she has questions about what she thinks she saw before the woman tumbled out of sight.
Told from the alternating perspectives of Pippa (NOW) and Amanda (AFTER) Sally Hepworth delivers yet ANOTHER original story that surprised me not ONCE-not TWICE- but at least THREE times!
Not only that, but she always NAILS her endings-shocking without being OTT!
I can’t wait to see what she dreams up for us next!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
I received a gifted copy from St. Martin’s Press through NETGALLEY and it was sincerely MY pleasure to offer a candid review! -
2.5⭐
Pippa and Gabe Gerard move to a cliffside cottage in a scenic coastal town on the outskirts of Melbourne with their two daughters with hopes of starting over after a difficult phase in their marriage. Their new home is close to the edge of a cliff, "The Drop" – an area frequented by those who chose to end their lives. Gabe, a sensitive person who has struggled with mental health issues, has made a name for himself by being able to persuade people from jumping to death. On one fateful night, Pippa sees a woman hovering close to the edge and calls the authorities as Gabe approaches the woman to talk to her. Pippa sees them talking but in a tragic turn of events, the woman plunges to her death and Pippa notices Gabe standing with his hands outstretched, which he later tells her was so that he could try to save the woman. Pippa isn’t quite convinced but chooses to believe her husband. Then it is revealed that the woman was none other than Amanda Cameron, the wife of Gabe’s former employer, Max Cameron – a fact that Gabe had not shared with Pippa initially. Was there more to what transpired that night of which Pippa is unaware? What is Gabe hiding from her and why?
The narrative is shared across “Now” and “Then” (Pippa’s Pov) and “Before" and “After" (Amanda’s PoV). The author touches upon themes of love, marriage and fidelity and mental health, among others. None of the characters are particularly likable, though I could sympathize with Amanda to an extent and Gabe for his personal struggles. On this note, I had serious issues with how the topic of mental health was handled in this story. We are shown that Gabe was receiving professional help, but I found it hard to believe Pippa did not question the initial diagnosis. As the narrative begins to shed light on past events, I thought Pippa, a lawyer by profession who has dealt with Gabe’s past indiscretions and mental health issues in the past, chose to ignore or rather was in denial over the gravity of the situation in the present timeline. With two young children at home, one would expect her to be circumspect and act on it, instead of wishing her troubles away and second-guessing her suspicions. As a plot point, I found this aspect of the story utterly unconvincing.
The author packs a lot into this story - dysfunctional relationships, mental health issues, lies and secrets and ambition with a few surprises along the way but the result is more family drama than domestic thriller and as that too, isn’t quite a satisfying read.
I’ve enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s domestic thrillers in the past and was happy for the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest offering. Unfortunately, The Soulmate did not work for me. I know I am an outlier here, but I honestly struggled to finish this one. I did not find the plot engaging, and though I was surprised a couple of times (always a good thing!) a few of the so-called twists felt contrived and I found the tension and the absorbing build-up that I enjoyed in the author’s previous works missing in this one.
Many thanks to author Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. -
4.5 STARS
The house on the cliff........
Literally on a cliff, known as "The Drop" near Melbourne. It's Gabe and Pippa's dream house, but who moves that close to a cliff with two young daughters? It made my nerves shred just thinking about the ledge! I admit to having a bit of acrophobia so I was on pins and needles everytime the cliff was mentioned (which is a lot). EEK!!
Just a regular family of four living close to a known "spot" that attracts jumpers who want to end their lives. Gabe has made a name for himself since they've moved in, he has saved seven, talking them down. He is sometimes referred to as an "angel".
Everything was hunky dory, until that day.
The woman, the ledge, his outstretched arms...
I'm not giving anything away! One thing leads to another. "I'm going to fix it.", I may have shouted, "Noooo".....
Thanks to Netgalley for my arc! OUT April 4, 2023 -
The Soulmate surprisingly is my first
Sally Hepworth novel, and it definitely won't be my last! This was a gripping popcorn thriller that is entertaining from beginning to end with a substantial discussion around those who struggle with mental illness and how their illness affects the people who care for them.
Short, snappy chapters, paired with alternating POVs, one of which is from the deceased who is stuck in limbo before passing on, provide a clever and suspenseful way of telling the story of what really happened the night that Amanda fell from "The Spot", which is a ledge/cliff behind Pippa and Gabe Gerard's home outside of Melbourne. This experience is unique, but not unbelievable, as Gabe has talked 7 previous strangers off of the ledge but failed with this latest woman.
Once the identity of the deceased is released, Pippa realizes the woman is the wife of Gabe's former boss, Max, and things escalate from there. I can't go into detail, but there was one aspect of the story that I was bracing myself for a cliche, offensive tangent, and color me surprised when the author handled it with a responsible manner that did not perpetuate stereotypes. Secrets, betrayals, and twists galore, it is quite an exciting read.
Secrets, betrayals, and twists galore, it is quite an exciting read. Recommended to read any time of the year, this fast paced, character driven novel is sure to bust the greatest reading slump.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Trigger Warnings: Discussions surrounding suicide, murder, adultery, substance overdose, and mental illness. -
Could not put this book down!! 5++ stars!
Riveting, seat-gripping drama that keeps getting cranked up with each page.
A couple (Gabe and Pippa) in an idyllic-appearing marriage purchase a home near a steep cliff that overlooks the ocean. People who are considering suicide go to The Drop. Gabe has been able to save seven people by going out and talking with them.
Then one person jumps---or is she pushed by Gabe?
Highly, highly recommend! -
Who in their right mind would even consider this?
Living in a home that backs up to a cliff notorious for being THE spot people choose to end their lives by jumping to their death? (Do you suppose that shows up on a Zillow report?)💁🏻♀️
Well, Pippa and Gabe are about to do just that! And oh yes…desperate people do still come to the cliff with the intension of ending it all. But interestingly since they’ve moved in, no one has actually followed through with their suicidal intent. You see, Gabe has a unique gift of talking the jumpers off the cliff side.
That is…until today!
This was a fantastic, twisty thriller that kept me on my toes with loads of secrets to be uncovered. Like me, you may think you have all the pieces put together. But I’m quite sure there will be at least one (if not more) bonus surprises in store. (Who doesn’t like bonus surprises?!)
Sally Hepworth continues to be one of my favorite go-to authors! And this latest didn’t disappoint! Hope you’ll enjoy it too!
A buddy read with Susanne!❄️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press -
**4.5-stars rounded up**
The Soulmate is the latest release from the Queen of the Whiplash Reveal, Sally Hepworth. As I quickly rediscovered with this story, Hepworth likes to keep you shook.
In this story we mainly follow Gabe and Pippa, a married couple with a beautiful cliffside home. Unfortunately, that cliffside sometimes attracts people with unsavory intentions.
Gabe has talked people off that ledge more than once. In fact it has happened so often they've even received coaching from the local police on the proper steps to take when they encounter a possible jumper.
Because of this, when they spot a woman on the ledge one day, it seems almost natural for Gabe to go out and approach her. To try to help.
Pippa is initially watching her husband talking to the woman. She hopes he'll be able to talk her back from the edge. Pippa turns her head, just for a moment and when she looks back, the woman is gone, Gabe's arms left reaching into empty space.
As the inquiry into the woman's death begins, it is revealed that Gabe actually knew her, unbeknownst to Pippa. What was said on the cliff that day? Did Gabe have a motive to push her? If so, what could it possibly be. Pippa is hurt, scared and confused. The couple has no secrets, do they?
I listened to this audiobook in one day. Once I started, I was quickly pulled into this web of ever growing secrets and reveals. It was impeccably told.
Hepworth drew me in from the start with a fascinating premise and an interesting couple. Pippa and Gabe were so glossy on the surface, but I just knew there was more to them both than was initially revealed. Boy, was I right!!
I love how Hepworth frames her stories. The pace and reveals are so much fun, you cannot help but be sucked into the lives of her characters.
This is the third novel I have read from this author and I have felt that way about every one of them. The plots are just so compelling, it's almost impossible to stop. Every chapter leaves you wanting more; more answers, more drama, more revelations. It's a whole experience.
I would absolutely recommend Hepworth's work to anyone who enjoys twisted Domestic Dramas with enough scandals, lies and secrets to keep your head spinning.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
I had a ton of fun reading this and look forward to whatever wicked web Hepworth is going to spin for us next!!! -
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 give 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.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my ALC.
Published April 4, 2023 -
"In one lifetime, you will love many times, but one love will burn your soul forever." Patty Starr Chase
WOWZA! This was so good! I love when a book surprises me and this one did several times. This had twists and turns galore! Bring it on!!!
Gabe and Pippa live in a cottage on a cliff. There are great views, but the cliff is known as the spot "The Drop" where people come to end their lives. Gabe has gone out and convinced people not to jump until one day he doesn't. Gabe tells the authorities that the woman informed him that she was distraught over her husband's infidelity. Her death is ruled a suicide but the police keep asking Gabe and the woman's husband questions. When Pippa learns that Gabe knew the victim and did not disclose it, Pippa wants to learn the truth about what happened, why the woman was on the cliff and why her husband lied.
I loved how the book is told through the POV of Pippa and Amanda (the dead woman). Through each POV we get to learn more about the women, their marriages, and their secrets. Juicy, juicy, juicy.
This book is so full of twists and turns be careful not to get whiplash! I loved the juicy domestic drama. I found this book very hard to put down and kept making time to read it. It's gripping, shocking, dramatic, full of secrets, and left me with my mouth hanging open a couple of times.
Hepworth has done it yet again! This is now my favorite book by her.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
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Thank you MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
** I don't give audiobook star ratings **
Audiobook rating: bro?? | Performance: 4/5 | Plot: 😵💫 | Ending: *drops to knees* whyyyyYYYYY
I tried this with my eyeballs first, but they tapped out at 8%. Why? My inner narrator was a whiny bish and I couldn't handle it. PLUS, you live at a su!cide hotspot and you just... stay there? Pls ma'am, pack your shit and hightail it outta there. Anyways, with my earholes it was much easier to get through this, but there was still a couple "you serious???" moments.
I wouldn't consider this a thriller; more of a family drama with a lil suspense? Idk but I wasn't thrilled. Pippi Longstocking had her head so far up her ass... cue that TikTok sound: de nile is a river in Egypt. I've never wanted two people to break up and never speak again so badly. Mans brought nothing to the table but drama and an illegitimate child that Pippi Longstocking lovingly took in (I don't have the strength for this, idc shame me). When Pippi said: "how could I not forgive this man?" I let out an audible groan. You can't be dead ass??? My only thought is that Gabe was slangin some CRAAAZZYYYY d!ck to keep her ass on lock.
Other than my dislike for Pippi (btw I know it's Pippa, but Pippi is more fun) and Gabe... and Amanda... and Max... and Archer tbh girl stop stabbing your sister! ... I did not quite like how mental illness was handled in this book. So Gabe is clearly rockin a chemically imbalanced brain, but don't worry folks, HE'S HELLAAAA SEXYYYYY!!!! It felt like the author wanted to redeem Gabe's character for being mentally ill so his lil redemption arc was his blonde hair and surfer tan. Tbh if Gabe had been a bit uglier, maybe he wouldn't have had the opportunity to raw dawg randos and reproduce outside of his marriage?? Anyways idc how sexy he is, he was a Grade A wagyu beef bum.
And the ending? That final twist? Untwist it. Keep it in the drafts. We didn't need that. I don't recommend this one but the cover is pretty! -
Sally Hepworth knows how to write domestic suspense!
Gabe and Pippa, along with their two four-year-old daughters, have moved to a cliffside home in Portsea, Australia. They’re hoping for a fresh start after Gabe’s unstable work history and increasingly erratic behavior have led to yet another move. Unfortunately, the cliff on their property is a well-known spot called “The Drop” for those who want to end their lives. Fortunately, Gabe seems to have a gift for talking people away from the edge … at least he did until this most recent woman shows up. Now she’s dead, and Pippa’s left to make sense of what she saw from the window.
Did this woman commit suicide, as Gabe claims? Is she really a stranger?
Things get a LOT more complicated for Gabe and Pippa when the woman’s identity is revealed!
I’m not going to say any more about the plot since so many reviews have summarized it by this point, but I will jump into what I liked and what I struggled with.
Likes:
★ Short, snappy chapters and lots of dialogue kept the pace moving nicely
★ It’s a very clever dual narrative mostly from Pippa’s past and present POV, but also from the victim Amanda’s past and present POV AFTER her death. It was extra fun to see things from her now omniscient perspective!
★ Hallelujah … the men weren’t perfect by any means, but they also weren’t written as complete cretins for once! Gabe and Max - Amanda’s husband - both had their issues, but there was at least some depth to them and a rationale behind their behavior.
★ The mental health issues felt realistically researched and portrayed.
★ Overall, an intriguing and entertaining story that kept me eagerly turning the pages to the end!
A few minor issues … aka a mini-rant:
◾ Please someone tell me the planet that exists where parents of two young, curious children buy a cliffside home with a bonus window view of occasional suicide attempts? WHAT? WHY? My brain can’t process this level of stupid.
◾Pippa is asked whether she’s heard of ADHD and she says “only in passing”. Is there really anyone who’s still clueless in this day and age about what ADHD is?
◾Pippa and Gabe’s devotion (i.e. co-dependency) was more annoying than admirable.
◾Prude alert: So many books these days have a scene where a woman is being … there’s no nice way to put this … orally pleasured by her guy. Good for you, ladies! Just please keep that door shut … I don’t need to see that. 🫣
◾I don't hate, but don't love how things ended. It made me sad. I can’t say more without spoiling.
Issues aside, I still mostly enjoyed this, and will continue to devour anything Sally Hepworth writes!
★★★ ½ (rounded up to 4)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and author Sally Hepworth for this ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published April 4, 2023. -
Hepworth's books are pure gold to me since The Mother-in-Law. I'm happy to say that The Soulmate is another winner!🏆
I was invested in this domestic thriller from the first sentence to the last. SH knows how to create intriguing and multidimensional characters. This novel, as the others by the same author, is captivating and touching at the same time. The plot is full of twists and turns and, even if some are predictable, at least they are realistic.
My favorite remains The Good Sister, but The Soulmate was a fantastic read!
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC -
**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 4.4!!**
"You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns."-Mark Twain
The battle of head vs. heart that permeates the pages of the Soulmate was eerily reminiscent of my OWN personal struggle with how to feel about my reading experience with this one...and I'm still not ENTIRELY sure who won!
The Drop: it sounds like a thrilling theme park ride, but in reality, it's a terrifying and steep cliff, right in the backyard of married couple Pippa and Gabe (and their poor kids...not sure how their nerves survive!) The spot has unfortunately gained some significant notoriety: it is a popular spot for jumpers. Gabe, aside from being devastatingly handsome and dreamy in every way, has ANOTHER natural gift: he is able to talk would be jumpers "off the ledge." Pippa often observes from afar, proud of the man she gets to call her husband...until one day, when she watches one such instance...but rather than a rescue, she witnesses a deadly fall.
Pippa is horrified, of course, but what confuses her is that it LOOKS to her like the victim didn't take a leap...and Gabe's chat with the female stranger seemed different than most. The police determine the jump was indeed a suicide, but the victim's husband is adamant that his wife would NEVER have intentionally ended her life. Pippa then learns that the stranger wasn't exactly a stranger to Gabe...and that final conversation may have been a far cry from helpful. Could the perfect man, the man she knows inside and out, her very best friend be hiding a secret so dark, so dangerous, that it was worth dying for....or even worth KILLING for?
Ever since I had the good fortune to pick up Hepworth's The Mother in Law after rave reviews from some trusted reader friends, I have been enamored with her craft. If there's one thing she does PHENOMENALLY well (and perhaps better than any other domestic suspense writer I read regularly) it's to put the DOMESTIC in domestic suspense in an authentic, no nonsense and often FUN way. Her books are always tinged with humor, the child characters in her books are so real and adorable you feel like they'll be running around the corner towards you at any moment, and she captures the 'normal' (both good and bad) of daily suburban (and at times wealthy suburban) life to a T. Her dialogue is never forced or over the top, and I always feel as though I KNOW her characters (and USUALLY grow to love them...special shout-out to Wally and Fern from The Good Sister...the world needs more of you both! 😍)
Where Hepworth's books sometimes falter for me, however, is in the execution of the 'suspense' itself. I'm not sure why this is, but despite her books having twists, this one in particular didn't feel twisty to me. I also LOVED The Good Sister and even THAT book played out in a pretty straightforward fashion. Although I was surprised at times during this book, I didn't ever feel as though I was properly 'tricked.' I kept waiting for a lot of dramatic 'a ha' moments, but what I got instead felt more like simple explanation rather than revelation.
I also didn't love the back and forth timelines AND the dual POV format for the book: in this case, it just felt like a bit much in terms of literary device and to be honest, the backstory timeline dragged a bit. There is also a thread of the plot that deals with mental health in a somewhat unbelievable way, but buy in from the reader is necessary to serve the plot, so you sort of have to just go with it. That being said, once again I applaud Hepworth for her vulnerability and willingness to include this sort of content without getting preachy OR being over the top...but again, this doesn't necessarily serve the SUSPENSE side of the story. I think her strength is on the domestic side of the street, and I'm curious at this point in time if I might enjoy some of her earlier books (more in this vein, from what I understand) than her current trajectory into suspense: time will tell!
Though my head kept telling me over and over that this was a 3 star read, there is just something indescribable and truly exceptional about Hepworth and her craft that tipped the scales and compelled me to give this book a 4.
Perhaps, like your high school 'soulmate', it was just 2 Good 2 Be "4" Gotten.
😉
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 -
In a Nutshell: No soul, no mate. Better if read as a family drama than as a domestic thriller. Even better if you skip it. Hello once again from Outlier Island!
Story Synopsis:Gabe and Pippa live in a cottage by a cliff along with their two little daughters. This cliff-side is unfortunately a suicide hotspot, and Gabe has become something of a local hero by rescuing people from jumping off to their deaths. But he doesn’t succeed in saving the latest person, a woman.
When Pippa learns that Gabe has not told her the entire truth and that he actually knew the victim, she begins to ask questions and discovers many new secrets. But Gabe is her soulmate, and it is her duty to keep him safe, isn’t it?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Pippa in two timelines – Then and Now, and also in the first person perspective of Amanda (the victim) in two timelines – Before and After.
Bookish Yays:
😌 The proceedings were quick. I didn’t even realise how the story went by. (That’s also because there was hardly any ‘story’, but let me not get into that in my ‘Yays’ section.)
😌 Amanda’s perspective is slightly better than Pippa’s in terms of impact. I like her and Max (her husband) better than Pippa and Gabe. (Which is quite a poor comparison, because I couldn’t stand Pippa or Gabe. Whoops…this is still the ‘Yays’ section!)
😌 The two little girls Freya and Asha are the only rays of sunshine in the murky mess of a book.
😌 The epilogue. The only sensible element in the whole book.
Bookish Nays:
😤 Pippa seemed to be living her life like a horse wearing blinders, with her eyes only on hot-hubby Gabe. Whatever he did is pardonable just because he is a gorgeous hunk with a mental health issue. Her family seems to have a distrust towards Gabe, but they too go with the flow and don’t say anything to Pippa.
😤 Amanda’s ghost seems to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Her ghostly voice serves as a convenient way of filling in the blanks that still-alive Pippa cannot tell us in her narration.
😤 No suspense, no mystery, no thrills, no logic! Only secrets and more secrets, that get sillier as the plot goes ahead. The whole novel would be over within a few chapters if everyone revealed the truth at the right time.
😤 The number of secrets in the book was closely matched by the number of coincidences. Imagine bumping into someone at just the right time, or finding an object that should have been near impossible to find, on the very day you decide to look for it! If only some of that luck rubbed off on me in my real life…Sigh!
😤 So many silly things in the plot! Who in their right mind would buy a house next to a cliff that is a suicide hotspot, especially if they have two four-year-old children? When the body of the wife of one of the richest men in town, a woman whose photo is clicked regularly by the paparazzi, is found, how come not a single police person recognises her immediately? What lawyer would keep things from the police and hope that they don’t find out about it, forgetting that the “secret” is not even a secret but the next logical step in the police investigation and it WILL come out!? I don’t want to go into spoilers, but many of the later revelations had me shaking my head in disbelief and/or rolling my eyes in frustration.
😤 The portrayal of mental health issues in this book is ridiculous, and borderline offensive to sufferers.
😤 The dialogues are also sometimes idiotic. Like, if I am talking to someone of my generation (say, my husband or my friend), why would I say something like “We didn’t have the internet then’ or ‘That was before social media’? Don’t they know it, duhhhh!
The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 7 hrs 45 min, is narrated by Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry. I am not sure which of them voiced which character, but both did an okay job. The one narrating Pippa was slightly better, but both narrators failed to narrate emotions convincingly. Their male voices were also not up to par. They were good at voicing the two women in neutral or mildly dramatic scenes, but when the emotions became intense, they didn’t convey the same feelings as the words. I find it very odd when narrators read out parts where a character “yelled” or “cried” in a perfectly regular voice.
Basically, the plot just reminded me of the famous line from one of Walter Scott’s plays: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" The whole book can be summed up in this quote, because that is what every single character does till we reach The End.
This was my first Sally Hepworth novel; so far, I have read only one short story by her (
Uncharted Waters, and this too generated mixed feelings.) As of now, I don’t feel like picking up more of her works. Let’s see what the future holds.
I suppose this can be recommended to fans of the domestic suspense genre or of the author, because most of my thriller-loving friends have enjoyed it. The rest of you can join me here on Outlier Island, especially if you love logic as much as I do.
2 stars.
My thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Soulmate”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
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Half a "bullshit, cockamanie, histrionic" star !!
Thanx to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. This was released April 2023. I am providing an honest review.
To say that this is a terrible read would be an understatement.
The prose was written in a simplistic and dumbed down fashion with short chapters that gave you a development from two women. One alive and one dead and their relationships with their respective soul mates in now and then fashion. Each chapter presents a piece of the puzzle to keep the story going in a very cheap and lazy fashion. The psychologies are inconsistent and labile and vacuous. The misdiagnosis is abysmal....a first year psychiatric nurse would have done a better job...hell a sixteen year old would have done better with their high school psychology text...hell a women's magazine quiz....you get the picture.
I guessed every single twist...not because I am savvy but because it was so damn predictable...all I knew that it had to be both ridiculous and unbelievable...I only did not get the final cliffhanger (hint hint) and when my poor reading eyes read it I actually laughed out loud...like severely. Be still my failing heart.
This book is an utter fail in every which way except for that gorgeous cover, interesting premise and the lovely idea that we all have a soulmate...
The half star is because I had to find out if I was correct about this shitshow...thankfully the novel was short or I may have had to visit that cliff myself...
-
EXCERPT: Gabe is standing much closer to the woman than he usually would. Closer to the edge, too. This is against the rules - his own, and the police's. The cliff is precarious enough for one person. Chunks of it fall into the ocean all the time. And on a night like this, the wind alone could force an unsuspecting person over the edge. Gabe has always been diligent about following the rules, despite his run towards the burning building mentality. I wonder if this is a sign of how it's going. If so, it's unlikely to be a good sign.
I glance briefly towards the street to see if the police are near. They won't have sirens or lights on. Like Gabe, they prefer a more subtle approach, not wanting to surprise or crowd anyone.
'Mummy,' Freya says, 'Asha is looking at me.'
'Asha, stop looking at your sister,' I say, my eyes still on the window.
Gabe takes a step towards the woman, which is also against the rules. 'Don't advance on them,' he always says. 'Persuade them to come towards you, towards safety.'
When Freya screams, I think I might faint. 'For heaven's sake,' I say quietly, as I see the prongs of the fork pressing into Freya's thigh and Asha's huge brown unworried eyes. I grab the fork. 'Asha!'
'Come on girls,' Kat says. 'I'll read you a book. Let's go pick one out.'
I turn back to the window. In the dark it takes me a moment to locate them. When I do, I don't understand what I'm seeing. The space where the woman had been standing is now vacant. Gabe is alone at the cliff's edge. His arms are outstretched, palms facing the empty air.
ABOUT 'THE SOULMATE': Before the woman went over the cliff, Pippa and Gabe were happy. They have the kind of marriage that everyone envies, as well as two sweet young daughters, a supportive family, and a picturesque cliff-side home - which would have been idyllic had the tall beachside cliffs not become so popular among those wishing to end their lives.
Gabe has become somewhat of a local hero since they moved to the cliff house, talking seven people down from stepping off the edge. But when Gabe fails to save the eighth, Amanda, a sordid web of secrets begins to unravel, pushing bonds of loyalty and love to the brink.
What wouldn't you do for your soulmate?
MY THOUGHTS: Delicious. Absolutely delicious.
Full of secrets, lies and suspicion, The Soulmate is told from the points of view of Pippa, Gabe's wife, and Amanda, the woman who dies falling from the cliff.
Initially Gabe and Pippa's family seem like a normal family. Gabe is a loving husband, a caring stay-at-home dad. Pippa is a lawyer - wills and beneficiaries. They are very close to Pippa's family. Both her parents and her sister Kat live close by. It seems that there is always one of them in Pippa and Gabe's house. But you know that, with this being a book by Sally Hepworth, things are not always what they seem.
There are some amazing twists in this novel, and none that I saw coming! I lost count of the number of times I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. But there's nothing OTT, it's all perfectly believable and rational.
The Soulmate is a book best gone into cold. Know no more than what is written in the blurb. Be prepared to be surprised in the very best way.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheSoulmate #WaitomoDistrictLibrary
I: @sallyhepworth @macmillanaustralia
T: @SallyHepworth @MacmillanAus
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #familydrama #mentalhealth #mystery #psychologicaldrama #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone.
Sally's novels are available worldwide in English and have been translated into 20 languages.
Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children and excels at burning toast.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Waitomo District Library for the copy of The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage
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Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors. Many of her novels are on my favorite reads list. I will read and/or listen to anything she writes. Once I start her books, I find it difficult to put down until I'm finished.
The Soulmate is an exciting story about love, marriage, loyalty, and secrets!!
Gabe and Pippa have a terrific marriage and are the parents to two wonderful little girls. They now live in the home they have always dreamed about. The view on the cliffs is gorgeous. Unfortunately, there are people using the cliffs as a place to end their lives. Until recently, Gabe has been able to save people from following through on the plan to end their lives.
What was different this last time? Why wasn't Gabe able to stop the woman from jumping?
You know what they say...
Things are not always what they seem.
Sally Hepworth's novels usually have great twists and turns that keep me guessing. The Soulmate was no different. The story had clever twists that took me by surprise. I thought the characters were well developed and the story flowed very well. I really liked the alternating points of view.
I was thrilled to be able to read and review both the audiobook and e-book for The Soulmate. This may not have been my favorite from this author (The Good Sister will be hard to top!) However, I still thought it was a great read .The audiobook was very well performed. The reading style of both narrators was excellent. In my opinion they brought even more life to an already enjoyable story.
The Soulmate was another terrific domestic suspense novel from Sally Hepworth. I am on pins and needles waiting for more from this very talented author.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own. -
Gabe and Pippa, hoping for a fresh start to their marriage, buy a cliffside home in an idyllic seaside location. The problem? The location is known as “The Drop” a place where people commit suicide by jumping to their deaths.
Gabe makes a name for himself as someone who can talk people down from the edge, preventing many suicides. Until one day he fails. Despite his best efforts, he is unable to save Amanda. What Gabe doesn’t mention to the police is he knows the woman, while Pippa doesn’t mention that she is unsure of what she saw unfold before her eyes from the kitchen window.
The story is told through the alternating points of view of Pippa and Amanda, both before and after Amanda’s death. This worked quite well, as it allows a slow reveal of the facts to the reader. Secrets and lies come home to roost with devastating consequences. This is nothing new in domestic thrillers, but the author has a fresh spin on the genre.
I also felt the author dealt with a particular condition (no spoilers!) extremely well. Through my experiences as a nurse, as well as knowing someone who suffers from it, I can say with confidence the author nailed it.
Sally Hepworth is masterful at writing books that deal with serious issues, but doing so with a light touch. I literally flew through the last 70% while on a long-haul flight and the pages nearly turned themselves.
*This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce and one we both highly recommend.
* I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own -
A house on a cliff, with a nice normal family inside. Occasionally the husband heads out to the dropoff, if a passerby looks a little too much like they're going to jump. He always talks them down...until the day he doesn't, and a woman jumps. Or did she?
That's the springboard for Sally Hepworth's tense domestic drama, as lawyer/mom Pippa wonders why her husband Gabe seems elusive about the woman who died, as the dead woman hovers in the ether commenting on the events after her demise and what led her to that cliff-top, and as the layers on all-around-good-guy Gabe are slowly peeled back. I read in one sitting on a long plane flight, and enjoyed every minute. -
5 enthusiastic stars. ⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐
This addictive and compulsively readable tale about marriage, friendships, trust, betrayals, and the devastating impact of mental illness on family members, checked all of my boxes.
The strength of one's devotion to a "soulmate" was also brilliantly and poignantly showcased in this intricately plotted domestic thriller.
I usually don't enjoy books that reference suicide and/or unfold from the POV of a dead protagonist in multiple timelines, but talented author Sally Hepworth made everything work. (Wow!)
The book was fast-paced, compelling, and unputdownable.....with a gasp-worthy ending.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook and all of the narrators did a superb job with the narration.
Sally Hepworth has been a consistent author for me and I always look forward to listening to her new releases.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this book was a cliffhanger (no pun intended!) with Sally Hepworth's signature "soul" (no pun intended #2!) and, to date, one of my best reads of 2023. -
***Book of the month: March 2023***
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I am writing this while I still feel the surge of adrenaline this book gave me!
The Soulmate is an absolutely unputdownable domestic suspense that caused a hot flush of irritation, combined with an icy chill with every insight I made page by page.
Every family certainly have their fair share of troubles and dysfunctional relationships, but The Gerard’s packaged up as a happy family step well out of line! They live in a meshwork of mental illness, infidelity, and criminality - way out of what I dared to imagine!!
The ending made me feel a bit sentimental *sniffing*.
Didn’t see that coming at all, though I had umpteen scenes swirling on my mind as to how the story could end. Not a chance!
This is my first novel by Sally Hepworth whilst I tremendously look forward to reading more of her impeccable writing!
Easy 5 stars! Highly recommended!
Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🙏 -
4⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Publication date ~ April 4, 2023
Page Count ~ 331
Audio length ~ 7 hours 44 minutes
Narrators ~ Barrie Kreinik, Jessica Douglas-Henry ~ both fine
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now and then & before and after, suicide, infidelity, mental illness, short chapters
Pippa narrates in the now and then. Pippa is known as the helper and husband Gabe the hero since he's saved 7 suicidal people from taking their life near their house that sits on a cliff. Until he doesn't save one...in steps Amanda as she narrates in the before and after, but talking as if dead ~ what's up with that? Not sure, but it worked well to slowly reveal, in a fast paced way, all the secrets and betrayal.
Sally is quite the storyteller giving us some nice twists. I was kept engaged and was able to bust it out at 2x in just one day.
Side note ~ this is one of my favorite covers.
*Thanks to
Sally Hepworth, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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An outstanding author who delivered another 5 star book! I didn't want to go to work but stay home and soak every word up, but reality had me put it aside. It will hold you in suspense as you watch marriages unravel with their deceptions and lies. With a house only feet away from a cliff designated as "the drop" for suicide missions, it left an eerie feel by the ocean. The cover is a beautiful deception of their final fleeting moments of life faced before their demise.
Told from different viewpoints, Pippa reveals a perfect marriage on the outside to her love at first sight husband, Gabe. He was a beautiful being, yet suffers from a mental illness misdiagnosed at first. They bought a house by the cliffs near Melbourne, known as Millionaire's Walk, and have two beautiful daughters....one of them being from Gabe's infidelity. Pippa practices law while Gabe is the daily protector of the girls. At times, Pippa reveals herself as a mother that suffered postpartum in the beginning, but Gabe has been deemed as the hero of the small community saving many contemplating suicide. The one time Gabe did not save a woman that did jump, Pippa tried to resolve what she saw from the window. Did Gabe push her? Know her? Lie to the police? To Pippa?
This is an amazing setup that will have you pondering all the ways that this could go, but none of them prepared me for that final ending. Outstanding!
A lot of dark, elusive stories are going on throughout and never a dull moment especially when the woman that jumped tells her side from purgatory.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press this copy in exchange for my honest review. -
I tried to hold off on this one since it doesn’t publish until April 2023, but as usual with a Sally Hepworth novel, I failed!
Pippa and Gabe, along with their children, live in a beautiful cottage on a cliff. The only thing is, the cliff has become a popular spot for folks to try and end their lives. Gabe becomes a local hero after saving many of them and convincing them to step off the ledge…
Until he fails to save one victim. Pippa initially comforts him, until she realizes that he knew the victim. Could her soulmate have a dark side?
I was hooked from page 1. The story is suspenseful, interesting, and compelling. The writing is amazing, which I knew it would be. While I didn’t find the end to be anything majorly shocking, it did wrap up nicely with all loose threads coming together.
Now, I’m eagerly awaiting Hepworth’s next book!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 4/4/23.
