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kimveach's review against another edition
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: Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Blood, Addiction, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Ableism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
acaluwe25's review
3.5
A fairly predictable domestic suspense taking place in a home near a cliff that is notorious for people committing suicide. Told in the past and the present, in several points of view. Trigger warnings for suicide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicide
meganashlee27's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this audiobook.
Gabe and Pippa live in their dream house. There’s just one downside…the cliff nearby is a popular suicide spot. Gabe has often gone out to talk to the people who come with this intention, and he’s been largely successful in helping them walk away. But one night, he’s not so lucky. When Pippa finds out who the woman was, the pieces start to fall apart even more.
I was really intrigued by the premise of the book, but as soon as the narrator’s POV changed I was disappointed. It wasn’t the narrator, I just don’t really enjoy books with that kind of perspective. However, I kept going, hoping I could get pst that. Both narrators had a then and now piecing together of how the story was unfolding. I was surprised by how things came together at the end, but I can’t say I really was satisfied by that. With everything leading up to it, it felt a bit rushed to make the final point.
Overall, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this audiobook.
Gabe and Pippa live in their dream house. There’s just one downside…the cliff nearby is a popular suicide spot. Gabe has often gone out to talk to the people who come with this intention, and he’s been largely successful in helping them walk away. But one night, he’s not so lucky. When Pippa finds out who the woman was, the pieces start to fall apart even more.
I was really intrigued by the premise of the book, but as soon as the narrator’s POV changed I was disappointed. It wasn’t the narrator, I just don’t really enjoy books with that kind of perspective. However, I kept going, hoping I could get pst that. Both narrators had a then and now piecing together of how the story was unfolding. I was surprised by how things came together at the end, but I can’t say I really was satisfied by that. With everything leading up to it, it felt a bit rushed to make the final point.
Overall, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
tspice24's review
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, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
milesofkiles's review against another edition
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: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Infidelity
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: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
overdosenaturallynoni's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
basicbookstagrammer's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Infidelity
chaptersofchase's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you, St Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy of The Soulmate {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 4.4.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
“We trust people based on the strangest, most arbitrary things. None of which have any bearing on whether you or not you are inherently good.”
In this unique dual-perspective story, the reader looks at the relationship between two seemingly devoted couples. But, as in most domestic suspense novels, secrets lurk just below the surface. But the question is, how dark are these secrets, and how far are the couples willing to go to keep them hidden?
I think I’ve read *almost* every Sally Hepworth, and this one just felt different than the others. Not in a bad way. It was just different for me. I started out thinking it would be more of a domestic suspense, but in the end, it gave me more of a family drama feel.
The Soulmate (although I don’t think the title goes with the book) offered a relatively quick read or listen- I believe I finished it in just under 48 hours. The short chapters and interesting plot lines made me find many excuses to listen to my audiobook. And I loved the narrator too, so it was a delightful read.
I applaud Sally Hepworth and how she handled a particular element of mental health in her book. She did so with careful regard for those who do suffer from this while at the same time not allowing that character to fall back on their illness as an excuse. I see a lot of authors attempt to tackle mental illness with their characters, and they either get it all wrong, OR they create an offensive character. Sally Hepworth did a phenomenal job tackling mental illness in The Soulmate.
✌🏼 Dual narrative
🗣️ Interesting perspective from one of the narrators
👏🏼 Well paced
📖 Short chapters
🎭 More of a family drama with suspense
🙃 Ending left me a tiny bit underwhelmed
I recommend reading The Soulmate if you enjoyed reading The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell.
_
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Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 4.4.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
“We trust people based on the strangest, most arbitrary things. None of which have any bearing on whether you or not you are inherently good.”
In this unique dual-perspective story, the reader looks at the relationship between two seemingly devoted couples. But, as in most domestic suspense novels, secrets lurk just below the surface. But the question is, how dark are these secrets, and how far are the couples willing to go to keep them hidden?
I think I’ve read *almost* every Sally Hepworth, and this one just felt different than the others. Not in a bad way. It was just different for me. I started out thinking it would be more of a domestic suspense, but in the end, it gave me more of a family drama feel.
The Soulmate (although I don’t think the title goes with the book) offered a relatively quick read or listen- I believe I finished it in just under 48 hours. The short chapters and interesting plot lines made me find many excuses to listen to my audiobook. And I loved the narrator too, so it was a delightful read.
I applaud Sally Hepworth and how she handled a particular element of mental health in her book. She did so with careful regard for those who do suffer from this while at the same time not allowing that character to fall back on their illness as an excuse. I see a lot of authors attempt to tackle mental illness with their characters, and they either get it all wrong, OR they create an offensive character. Sally Hepworth did a phenomenal job tackling mental illness in The Soulmate.
✌🏼 Dual narrative
🗣️ Interesting perspective from one of the narrators
👏🏼 Well paced
📖 Short chapters
🎭 More of a family drama with suspense
🙃 Ending left me a tiny bit underwhelmed
I recommend reading The Soulmate if you enjoyed reading The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell.
_
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend.diner/
Follow my blog: https://thebookenddiner.com/
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookenddiner
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/thebookenddiner
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
amcfadden's review
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt