“The Soulmate” is set in a coastal town in Australia. Gabe and Pippa recently moved here in order to have a fresh start, and the book takes its time revealing why they desperately needed a fresh start. They seem to be the perfect couple, raising two little girls in a home they only dreamed they could afford. They live in a cottage on a cliff, and the cliffs are a known spot where people go to end their lives. Those familiar with the area call it “The Drop.” Gabe has been able to save several people from jumping off the cliff since he and Pippa moved into the house, but there is one time he is not successful. It all happens so fast, and Pippa struggles to understand what she saw. Did the woman jump, or did something else happen? And then we find out that Gabe knew the victim. That’s when Pippa really begins to question everything. You will find yourself wondering which characters you can trust.
There are several themes throughout this book, and it’s not really a mystery that’s going to keep you guessing about who did what, but it does slowly unravel nuggets of truth that have been deposited throughout the book. “The Soulmate” is fiction, but it delves in to the complex realities of relationships. It touches on mental illness through one of its main characters. It’s important to note that suicide is a topic discussed throughout the book, so this is something I want potential readers to know.
I couldn’t put this book down. I found myself really questioning all the characters and their motives for everything they did or didn’t do. You might become frustrated with the characters, as I found myself doing numerous times throughout the book. Pippa’s character made me want to pull her aside and tell her to wake up, and that’s exactly what several other characters tried to do. How many times can we overlook the mistakes of others, or even overlook the flaws within ourselves? In my head, Iimagined the cliffs by Gabe and Pippa‘s house as a peaceful and beautiful setting, but the reality is that people choose this place when they feel a sense of hopelessness and despair. How can such a beautiful place draw so many troubled souls in their darkest moments?
This is the second book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth, and reading this one makes me want to dive into her other novels. For many years I stuck strictly to non-fiction, but something made me decide to give fiction a chance, and reading a novel like this makes me glad I ventured outside of my comfort zone.
I hope you enjoy “The Soulmate” by Sally Hepworth. You will devour this book.
