A review by cj_mo_2222
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Pippa and Gabe Girard moved to a cliffside home outside Melbourne with their two daughters for a fresh start. However, the Girards soon learn that their home is close to “The Drop” where many people go to end their lives. Gabe is handsome and charismatic and has made a name for himself for being even more successful than the police at talking people out of this. However, one evening Gabe runs out to help a woman standing near the edge of the cliff, but is unable to stop her from saving a woman from falling off the ledge. Something seems strange about this to Pippa and she wonders if Gabe could be lying and what other secrets he might be keeping.

This story is told from different timelines and different points-of-view, both Pippa and the victim’s. It is a long time before the reader learns what happened to cause the Girards to feel like they needed to move to a new town. There is much back and forth and twists and turns in this story that sometimes it was dizzying. Just when you thought you knew what had gone one in Pippa and Gabe’s life, something new would be revealed. I enjoyed both the past and present narration by Pippa as well as the past narration by Amanda, the victim. However, I think there are other ways that what Amanda said could have been told without her narrating from beyond the grave. 

There are so many surprises in the plot of this book, that it’s hard to comment on too much without giving something away. I will say that although I didn’t care for some of the choices made by the characters, I found the story to be compelling and I was eager to find out all of the secrets in the lives of these characters. I like that answers are given at the end and we get a glimpse into what the lives of main characters look like in the aftermath of everything that happens.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The ebook was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

 
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