Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Domestic
Release Date: April 4th, 2023
Pages: 336
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in Sally Hepworth’s The Soulmate.
There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.
When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral…Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?
And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate…lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel.”
My Review:
This book had a hold on me and I just couldn’t let it go. It’s emotional, all-consuming, and I loved every minute of it. The author noted that this book is “an unconventional murderous love story” and I couldn’t agree more.
It’s a very character-driven story and they are all fully fleshed-out. The lines between good and evil are blurred, with many of the characters relatably flawed.
The story largely functions in this grey area through the in-depth look into the characters’ lives and impulses. We are taken along on their journey towards growth and realization.
The relationships are complex; the connections and revelations that come to light are delightful. And there are lines of humor that had me laughing out loud, offering comedic relief between all the darker moments.
There are multiple perspectives simultaneously coalescing to create the bigger picture.
The plot is thought-provoking and it touches on many important themes. I found myself constantly asking what I would do in certain situations. This story really brings to light the idea that we shouldn’t make assumptions or judgements because we never truly know everything that’s going on in a person’s life.
I thought the representation of mental illness was done tastefully and respectfully. We get to see how mental illnesses can affect a person’s work, home, and social life, as well as the nuances of misdiagnoses and misunderstandings.
I really appreciate the acknowledgement that a person is not defined by their illness and their illness cannot be used as a reason or excuse for violence.
In the media (movies in particular), caricatures of the stereotypically worst-case symptoms are often used as a plot device and it really gives a bad rep for the many individuals who, in reality, suffer on a spectrum. Personally, I don’t agree with exaggerating mental illness as a way to heighten the dramatic effect, and this can be a sensitive topic for readers, so I was pleased that this story stuck to a more clinical context.
Recently I’ve been reading a lot of mystery-thrillers and have noticed the use of tropes for plotting that can be repetitive or too predictable – but not with this one.
I was really trying hard to guess what was going to happen next and I never could figure it out. I loved being truly surprised, especially when those surprises were so plausible that I couldn’t believe I didn’t see it coming. So many times I was left wondering how I was still being shocked. This was such a fun experience and kept me turning the pages.
This book wholly deserves all five stars! I can’t wait to hear everyone else’s thoughts. I feel like this is going to be a story that everyone will be talking about. It’s an exciting ride that will absorb you and leave you hanging onto every word.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post may contain affiliate links that I may earn a small commission from with no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support 🙂
Shop online while supporting local bookstores:
Their mission is to help support local, independent bookstores while still offering readers the e-commerce experience. This is a great way to easily get the books you crave while supporting other fabulous members of our bookish community!
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I love a good book discussion. 🙂
Leave a Reply