The Soulmate
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a twisty mystery full of family drama. It’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from this author.

This book is part of My Spring 2023 Reading List.

My Overview

It’s been a year since Pippa and Gabe moved to a cliffside cottage in a coastal town just outside of Melbourne. For about as long, Pippa has regretted their move to that home. Their location is known for the multi-million dollar homes with million dollar views. Unfortunately, the cliff at the back of their home is also a popular jump off spot for suicides. On top of that, they fear their little girls might accidently fall off the cliff. Clearly, life at the cottage hasn’t been as peaceful there as they’d expected.

Interestingly, while living there Gabe has discovered he has a gift of talking people out of suicide. One evening, when Pippa sees a woman standing near the edge of cliff, Gabe rushes out to help her. This time, however, the outcome is different. The woman actually goes off the cliff! The woman is Amanda, but it’s unclear whether Gabe knew her or not. Did she jump off or did Gabe push her? The question of how she died is the crux of the story.

There are two narrators in this story, each narrating in dual timelines:

  • Pippa (Then and Now)
  • Amanda (Before and After)

Pippa and Amanda each appear to be happily married to their soulmate. As the story unfurls, though, the couple’s secrets do too. Each of the couples have something they’re hiding. Soon enough, there are more questions than answers. Even the strength and loyalty of their marriages is at question. This is a multilayered story that revolves around the themes of marriage, infidelity, and mental illness.

Between the alternating POVs, multiple timelines, and various twists … this is an engaging story from beginning to end. The twists kept the plot intriguing and characters constantly evolving. Overall, this is an unputdownable fast-paced mystery.

My Recommendation

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy twisty family dramas. The fast-paced mystery, short chapters, and alternating POVs kept me glued to the story. The audiobook, which has two narrators, is fantastic. If you can, listen to the audiobook.

I’ve enjoyed many other books by Sally Hepworth, so I recommend the author in general. One of the books I recently enjoyed by this author is The Younger Wife. My review is here.

Have you read this book yet?