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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
After hearing a few reviews about this book, I was curious and decided I needed to pick it up for myself.
"The Soulmate" is a mystery/thriller that follows a woman named Pippa. Pippa and her husband, Gabe, are building a seemingly picturesque life for themselves at their cottage on a cliffside. Unfortunately, their home tends to draw broken people who want to attempt suicide by jumping from the cliffs edge. Gabe has single-handedly prevented several suicides over the years, until he one night, he does not. But did Gabe fail to talk the young woman from the ledge, or did Gabe give her the push that killed her?
I really loved the idea of this story, and I really enjoyed learning more about Pippa and Gabe's relationship. They are both deeply flawed, and the reader learns how each has brought their own baggage into the marriage. I was far more invested in learning the mysteries about their marriage than I was about the actual mystery of the woman on the cliff.
The plot and mystery of this book was fine, but it did not blow me away. I was engaged and had a fine time, but I did not think the "big reveal" was anything new to me. I do think this book is well-written and a fine time for someone who enjoys the thriller genre.
I am still very much interested in Sally Hepworth as an author and will be picking up more from her in the future.
"The Soulmate" is a mystery/thriller that follows a woman named Pippa. Pippa and her husband, Gabe, are building a seemingly picturesque life for themselves at their cottage on a cliffside. Unfortunately, their home tends to draw broken people who want to attempt suicide by jumping from the cliffs edge. Gabe has single-handedly prevented several suicides over the years, until he one night, he does not. But did Gabe fail to talk the young woman from the ledge, or did Gabe give her the push that killed her?
I really loved the idea of this story, and I really enjoyed learning more about Pippa and Gabe's relationship. They are both deeply flawed, and the reader learns how each has brought their own baggage into the marriage. I was far more invested in learning the mysteries about their marriage than I was about the actual mystery of the woman on the cliff.
The plot and mystery of this book was fine, but it did not blow me away. I was engaged and had a fine time, but I did not think the "big reveal" was anything new to me. I do think this book is well-written and a fine time for someone who enjoys the thriller genre.
I am still very much interested in Sally Hepworth as an author and will be picking up more from her in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
A really enjoyable domestic thriller with complex characters and an intentionally convoluted storyline that alternates between two excellent characters, one of them dead.
Sally Hepworth does a great job steering her nonlinear story down a crooked roadway that periodically veers too close to the edge. But then, that’s the fun of it! While there are two primary narrators, the story they tell is only as reliable as what they themselves interpret from past events and are told by others. I’m a sucker for a good love story, especially those that struggle and require hard work to survive. This story has its share of love stories and they touched my heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed the revealing of information over the coarse of the story, done so at a quick enough pace to give the book a nice momentum. I was fully engaged and anxious to see how the dots would connect… and they did in what I felt was a satisfying conclusion.
I listened to the audiobook and was glad the two different points of view were represented by two different readers, Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry. Their voices and reading of the story fit the characters so well.
Sally Hepworth does a great job steering her nonlinear story down a crooked roadway that periodically veers too close to the edge. But then, that’s the fun of it! While there are two primary narrators, the story they tell is only as reliable as what they themselves interpret from past events and are told by others. I’m a sucker for a good love story, especially those that struggle and require hard work to survive. This story has its share of love stories and they touched my heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed the revealing of information over the coarse of the story, done so at a quick enough pace to give the book a nice momentum. I was fully engaged and anxious to see how the dots would connect… and they did in what I felt was a satisfying conclusion.
I listened to the audiobook and was glad the two different points of view were represented by two different readers, Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry. Their voices and reading of the story fit the characters so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity
Minor: Murder
bookedupandie's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow, what a twist! A super fast read/listen, that I thoroughly enjoyed. Plus, the audiobook is narrated by someone with an Australian accent, which is perfect since it takes place in Australia (and is a gorgeous accent, in general). It was crazy listening to all the layers unfold, and then the twist!! Definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Infidelity, Violence, and Murder
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder
pookiee's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this is a real page-turner! the chapters are short and there are gripping mini-cliffhangers and plot twists throughout. Hepworth delivers really good character-focused thrillers that make you interested in the people involved as well as the mystery itself. I normally find books that flit between the past and present frustrating, but not this one since it’s well paced, and the time and perspective jumps are not just for building suspense, they are relevant to the point in the story each time one happens. my main qualm is the afterlife perspective feels out of place and too philosophical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Misogyny and Murder
Minor: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lisasilv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
Sally Hepworth rarely disappoints. Some good twists and turns throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness
booknerdynurse's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Murder, and Alcohol
bitesizedbeet's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Abortion
honey_coated_chapters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
°:. *₊ ° . ° .•
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5//5
𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 324
𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: thriller/suspense
𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔:
•dual POV and timelines
•domestic issues
•paranormal-ish?
•mental illness discussion
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆: flashbacks, twists that unravel slowly yet carefully, imagining yourself as a ghost sitting front row in the lives of those you knew.
———————————————————————
This is my first 5 star rating in a while, I truly couldn’t put it down and it single-handedly eliminated my reading slump. The plot is unheard of and entirely original. It’s all very confusing at first — there is a lot of “alluding to” and insinuations, but it’s fast paced you quickly discover what everything means and where the pieces fit. The story is told in present time and via flashbacks by 2 of our main characters. Everyone is connected someway, all marriages have agreements and secrets and no one is perfect. How much would you put up with to be with your perfect spouse??
———————————————————————
There is a lot of passion and emotion within the pages. It felt like I was reading excerpts from a diary rather than a novel. There were zero plot holes, the ending wasn’t rushed and every question was answered, every point connected. It’s so hard to not give any spoilers… I’m not sure I would refer to it as a thriller, maybe just a mystery/whodunit but either way, it was so well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, and Murder
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I liked the book for what it was. However, I wouldn't necessarily categorized this book as a thriller and more like a mystery/cozy mystery. So if you're expecting this book to be super thrilling then lower your expectations because that's not what this book is. Once I realized that and got over that fact the book was pretty entertaining to me.
I'll have to admit the book was messy. There was alot of drama going on here. It was kinda crazy. The book didn't give me crazy feelings or anything. In fact, I didn't really feel anything after I finished and I don't think I'll ever think about it again, but it was still entertaining for what it was.
Amanda being ghost make no sense the entire book. I saw a comment that said that it seemed like she was nowhere but everywhere at the same time and I completely agree. I also I lowkey still feel like Gabe pushed Amanda off that cliff. I'm so happy Pippa FINALLY left him. I felt like he was a red flag from the jump and I really wish her family didn't cottle her feelings and just told her how they felt about him because she endured all his drama and for what. Also his intial diagnosis of ADHD didn't make sense to me because he literally had a psychosis early on and that's not a symptom of ADHD. Even I saw that!
I'll have to admit the book was messy. There was alot of drama going on here. It was kinda crazy. The book didn't give me crazy feelings or anything. In fact, I didn't really feel anything after I finished and I don't think I'll ever think about it again, but it was still entertaining for what it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism