Scan barcode
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
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
berriesreads's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
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
3.5
This plot was promising, and it started off really well. But then it dragged on and the plot twists just fell flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death
Moderate: Infidelity and Mental illness
spicy_tofu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
1.5
The characters were extremely unlikeable and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The main character was unbelievably stupid, weak, naive, bland and tiresome. I was disappointed and frustrated that she lacked any common sense and continued to gaslight herself throughout the ENTIRE book and it made it hard to be invested in her story. The way she is SO obsessed with and forgiving of her TERRIBLE husband (with countless glaring red flags) just because he's gorgeous. 🤢🙄🤡 Mental illness was used as a plot device and I felt like it was done so in an extremely disrespectful, lazy and damaging way. It either reflected poor understanding of mental illness or poor writing?? The few lines at the end of the book about the main character's realisation regarding her husband's mental illness felt lazy and nowhere near sufficient to save the book from its damaging portrayal of mental illness. I did enjoy the format with the short chapters and mini cliffhangers and different perspectives and times. But the second person's POV was kind of a crazy concept... Anyway the main character and her husband gave me bad vibes from the start and they were all confirmed by the end, which was kind of predictable. There was also zero character development, and this was reinforced by the final chapter where we get to glimpse one year into the future. I also found the portrayal and writing of some of the characters very inconsistent and confusing. Many aspects about the ending were also very frustrating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Suicide
wonderfulxwonderful's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Addiction
bertrandlm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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, Death, and Mental illness
bookshelf_al's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity
aslebell's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
rubberrosebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicide attempt
irenemarie's review against another edition
dark
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Death, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Gun violence
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: Grief, Infidelity, Suicide, Murder, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship