Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

13 reviews

narbine's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Alcohol, and Addiction

Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, Suicide, Stalking, and Infidelity

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Vomit

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I was a little afraid that the narrative style choice was going to be kind of gimmicky, but I thought it worked pretty well. But also goddamn, can women stop dating super annoying and damaging men? At least this is super realistic. The husband is just such a nightmare. The female characters in this book seem to fall into the trope of women being too emotional to remember to be logical. And I do not like that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, Murder, Suicide, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, and Gun violence

madanxiety's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Has Big Little Lies energy (referring to the show - I've never read the book), except the "mystery" is a lot more obvious - the protagonist just takes forever to wake up from the denial. Still, it hooked me quite quickly, which is why I was so upset when I realized that I'd started it super late into my loan on Libby and it was returned before I could finish it. Now, two months later, I finally got it loaned again and finished it!

I appreciate how messy it is. I also like how and when certain details/twists are revealed. You're certainly weaving around major things before finally reaching them. 

Idk I'm just left feeling like "THAT was a book." It's not like revolutionary, but it does what an entertaining book ought to do. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Infidelity, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Death

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

meredith_williams_'s review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Soulmate was the first mystery I’ve read in awhile. The book centers on a married couple who lives on a cliff side and frequently has to deescalate strangers’s suicide attempts. On the night of an unsuccessful rescue attempt, the wife grows suspicious of her husband’s potential involvement. I really liked Hepworth’s writing style. Her pacing keeps the story moving and she does a great job of flipping between timelines to slowly release key information about the relationships between the main characters. Having one of the characters narrate from beyond the grave was also a really interesting style choice that added to the overall intrigue. I didn’t love how a lot of mental health issues were sensationalized for the purpose of the plot. I understand the appeal and I think it happens frequently in the genre, but in my opinion it’s reinforcing some negative stereotypes. A few of the reveals were also a little over the top. But overall I will read more of Hepworth’s work. If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining, and dramatic read, I recommend The Soulmate. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit

rochelleisreading's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Mental illness

Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, Murder, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Alcohol

bitesizedbeet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, and Infidelity

Minor: Abortion, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking

mysterymom40's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicide and Sexual content

mtnest's review

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

riannacat's review

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: Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Suicide, and Violence

soobooksalot's review

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.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy