Scan barcode
riannacat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Alcohol
soobooksalot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Twists aren't just for the end of a book!
I read the majority of Sally Hepworth's newest, The Soulmate, in one evening. It's perfectly bingeable.
Pippa, husband Gabe, and daughters Freya and Asha, appear to be the perfect family. But any thriller reader knows this is never the case.
The story is told from the points of view of two characters. Each is in two time frames - before/after, and then/now.
I'm a big fan of domestic suspense and I did not see the twists of The Soulmate coming, built in along the way to keep us off balance. And I definitely did not anticipate the ending!
Great characters, excellent pacing.
Recommended!
For release on April 4.
I read the majority of Sally Hepworth's newest, The Soulmate, in one evening. It's perfectly bingeable.
Pippa, husband Gabe, and daughters Freya and Asha, appear to be the perfect family. But any thriller reader knows this is never the case.
The story is told from the points of view of two characters. Each is in two time frames - before/after, and then/now.
I'm a big fan of domestic suspense and I did not see the twists of The Soulmate coming, built in along the way to keep us off balance. And I definitely did not anticipate the ending!
Great characters, excellent pacing.
Recommended!
For release on April 4.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
kimveach's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An excellent thriller. It kept me engaged from beginning to end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
mythicalbeastxiii's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This was my March BOTM pick. Right from the first page, i was hooked. After their lives are turned upside down, Gabe and Pippa moved to a house adjacent to a spot known as The Drop. It is a well-known suicide hotspot, but in the year they have lived there, Gabe has managed to talk down several people until one fateful day. It goes on to follow two POV between two timelines: Before and After the apparent suicide of a woman. Except nothing is as it appears. There were some amazing twists in this story. When you start to figure out something, you're thrown a curveball. What I loved most about this story wasn't exactly a whodunit. Instead, it was piecing together why it happened.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder
tspice24's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
milesofkiles's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder
kelly_e's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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
🔖 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."
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
🔖 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."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
overdoseseetaylorwrite's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating: 4.5
What happens when love pushes you to the edge? That’s exactly what Pippa and Gabe find out in “The Soulmate”. Nobody has the perfect marriage, regardless of how it seems on the outside. What secrets are Gabe and Pippa hiding? You’ll have to read and find out.
This thriller had me locked in from the time I got the ARC via audiobook and again whenever I got the hardback copy from my BOTM box. So many twists and turns that I never saw coming. My jaw dropped several times and I found myself holding my breath more than once. The last two chapters were the most surprising of them all.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you like thrillers and sitting on the edge of your seat.
What happens when love pushes you to the edge? That’s exactly what Pippa and Gabe find out in “The Soulmate”. Nobody has the perfect marriage, regardless of how it seems on the outside. What secrets are Gabe and Pippa hiding? You’ll have to read and find out.
This thriller had me locked in from the time I got the ARC via audiobook and again whenever I got the hardback copy from my BOTM box. So many twists and turns that I never saw coming. My jaw dropped several times and I found myself holding my breath more than once. The last two chapters were the most surprising of them all.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you like thrillers and sitting on the edge of your seat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
matildaesandell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
great read to end 2022 with. always love a thriller/something to keep me hanging! this one was a good book that explores the power of love and what you would/wouldn’t do for your spouse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
booksbytheglass's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m still sitting on my thoughts on this one because I flew through it in a day, and I’m sitting here in shock at the ending 🤯
and … I don’t know if it’s a good kind of shock or a bad kind of shock …
THE SOULMATE takes place in two parts - one from pippa’s POV in before and after, and one in amanda’s POV in before and after. I absolutely loved the format it was set up in, and while I was confused at first, I got into the groove of the writing style pretty fast.
this is definitely a domestic thriller at its finest, with SO many curveballs and plot twists, but the ending seemed all too neat for me 😅 in these kind of books, I don’t want to see a happily ever after lol
the characterization was super fleshed out (which I love), and I definitely felt that each character’s moral compass was certainly off the charts 👌🏼 perfect for spooky thrillers am I right
it also just really bothered me how blind the MC pippa was to how everyone was treating her, like girl stop making excuses for shitty people!!!
I think I’m mostly just hesitating on the ending because of how chaotic the rest of the book was and how calm and final the last few chapters were … but I really enjoyed this one so I’m going with 3.5 stars … for now …
a huge thank you to st. martin’s press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! this one was perfect for spooky season 👻
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: melbourne malbec
and … I don’t know if it’s a good kind of shock or a bad kind of shock …
THE SOULMATE takes place in two parts - one from pippa’s POV in before and after, and one in amanda’s POV in before and after. I absolutely loved the format it was set up in, and while I was confused at first, I got into the groove of the writing style pretty fast.
this is definitely a domestic thriller at its finest, with SO many curveballs and plot twists, but the ending seemed all too neat for me 😅 in these kind of books, I don’t want to see a happily ever after lol
the characterization was super fleshed out (which I love), and I definitely felt that each character’s moral compass was certainly off the charts 👌🏼 perfect for spooky thrillers am I right
it also just really bothered me how blind the MC pippa was to how everyone was treating her, like girl stop making excuses for shitty people!!!
I think I’m mostly just hesitating on the ending because of how chaotic the rest of the book was and how calm and final the last few chapters were … but I really enjoyed this one so I’m going with 3.5 stars … for now …
a huge thank you to st. martin’s press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! this one was perfect for spooky season 👻
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: melbourne malbec
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts