This book feels very timely! When Clemmie was a baby she had a lot of seizures and her doctor told the parents she couldn't be safely vaccinated. This means that the parents rely on everyone around their daughter being vaccinated to create herd immunity. The story goes between narratives of different parents and I found this really gripping and whizzed through it in a day!

The Herd is on the surface a story that examines whether a parent's choice on whether to vaccinate their child is valid when if they choose not to, they risk harm to other's who don't have that choice. Beneath the surface this is a story of friendship, grief and coping mechanisms. It is about the pressures heaped on parent's who for the most part are trying to do right by their child.

The book was engaging despite the two key protagonists having aspects to their characters which did them no favours. Elizabeth is the busy, organised mother of three, whilst Bryony is far more disorganised mother of one, and part-time parent to her husband's two sons from his former marriage.

The book is told through both parties viewpoints in 2019 with sections designated to a trial held at the end of that year. and in my opinion is one of those books which is best read without too much forewarning.

An incisive book that by dint of timing is very relevant today!

Elizabeth and Bryony are polar opposites but their unexpected friendship has always worked. They're the best of friends and good mothers to each others daughters - because they trust that the safety of their children is a top priority for both of them. Little do they know that they differ radically over one very important issue. And when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child's birthday party, the consequences are more catastrophic that either of them could ever have imagined.

Elizabeth and Bryony have two completely different personalities. Elizabeth's daughter has an illness which means she should not be vaccinated and her parents have to rely on the herd immunity around them to keep Clementine safe. Elizabeth is quite vocal on the importance of being vaccinated. Bryony doesn't trust vaccines, so her daughter has not been vaccinated. This is quite a relevant storyline to our current situation with covid. It's also quite an emotional read. This is a well written book that debates for and against vaccines.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #EmilyEdwards for my ARC of #TheHerd in exchange for an honest review.

Whilst this book is not related to the COVID outbreak it has some bearing with the vaccination process. Pro vaccine brigade and Anti Vaxxers. It covers the contentious subject around childhood vaccines
In this novel we have 2 families, close friends and neighbours they and their children spend lots of time with each other. But following a measles outbreak friendships are threatened, and outsiders find themselves taking sides.
I loved this book, I thought both female characters had unlikeable traits but that just added to the story and the dilemma. I found myself rooting for both of them in each chapter. This novel explores the lengths Mothers go to to protect their children
Emily Edwards has written a very good novel here

What a brilliant story of two families on different sides regarding topic of vaccines.

You have Elizabeth and her family whose little girl Clemmie was a very ill baby who nearly died so is all for vaccines even though her daughter she says could not be vaccinated.

Her friend across the road Briony was dead against vaccines so her children were unvaccinated.

What follows is a story of what happens when Elizabeth's little girl gets seriously ill because Briony told a lie. The writer has done a brilliant job of putting both sides in context.

I would highly recommend this book, I look forward to reading more books from this author.

Brilliant! The premise of this book was both appealing and repelling in equal measure, how could I not want to find out what happens? But how angry will it make me to read?

The herd is a masterpiece of a book, it brilliantly interweaves all aspects of the debate, going beyond a theoretical should we vaccinate or not, to a much more nuanced argument.

The twist in the storyline at first seemed like a bit of a cop out but on reflection enabled a wider exploration of motherhood.

The story really shows the nuance and intricacies of the debate in the real world, where sadly nothing is ever as easy as theoretical debate.

A brilliant book that will make you think, will grow your empathy and will ultimately make you consider what is really important in life.

Not too many spoilers here.
This is a slow-burn domestic drama concerning the vaccination status of two young girls, and the trusting nature of their parents’ relationship. The background relating to choices made by people who choose to not vaccinate their children, and consequences and repercussions are well explored in this book.
Thought provoking story with two interesting strong and relatable female leads.


Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

The Herd is on many a ‘books to look out for in 2022’ list. Whilst it was written before the pandemic – it is even more relevant now as it’s about whether or not to vaccinate your children. In the book the vaccine in question is MMR – but could equally be the Covid vaccine. Some of the reviews, included that quoted on the cover by the brilliant Clare Mackintosh, says that it will bring about debate – which seems to be already true as some of the reviews already on NetGalley are totally contradictory! Some implying it’s totally pro vaccination – and others that it is totally anti vaccination. I therefore suspect it possibly depends on your own beliefs and thoughts on vaccinations as to what you interpret from the FICTIONAL book.

Here’s the blurb:

“You should never judge how someone chooses to raise their child.
Elizabeth and Bryony are polar opposites but their unexpected friendship has always worked. They’re the best of friends, and godmothers to each other’s daughters – because they trust that the safety of their children is both of their top priority.
But what if their choice could harm your own child?
Little do they know that they differ radically over one very important issue. And when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child’s birthday party, the consequences are more catastrophic than either of them could ever have imagined . . .”

You know early on that there is a Court Case – and so something bad is going to happen – but the chapters about the court case – written by many different characters who you don’t fully meet (which was very clever) are interspersed with events from earlier in the Summer.

Some elements of the story are told from Elizabeth’s point of view – and some from Bryony’s – as it builds up to the court case itself. I don’t want to ruin too much of the story line – as I think you need to watch it unfold yourself. There are some red herrings (or pink flamingos!) along the way – so you’re never quite sure how everything is going to pan out.

I have to say I saw elements of myself in Elizabeth (it must go with the name!) being a control freak in general – but also being concerned for the health of a child with underlying issues (when our youngest was first diagnosed with a chronic health condition, I did myself worry about her mixing with unvaccinated children).

As well as Elizabeth and Bry, there is a supporting cast of family, friends and neighbours – all of whom add to the community feel of the book and the street where the two families live. It’s interesting to see the various allegiances – and how these change over the course of events.

One thing I would say, is that I’m not sure it would be a good book for a book club – but purely because vaccines are such an emotive subject, I fear that any discussions on the book would descend into a debate on vaccines in general and people often hold very strong and intransigent views on these – and I suspect this would over shadow talking about the book itself (which I think is written and edited brilliantly).

A massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for my ARC. The Herd is out in February 2022 and can be pre ordered now.

What a topic for a book!. But what an emotional story!. I read and kept reading, what would happen?, would some friendships be ruined? It was fantastic and I was so emotionally invested. The writing a!ong with the subject matter was top notch!.
There's nothing more to say than I'm excited and am looking forward to the next book from Emily Edwards!!
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #randomhouse, #emilyedwards

A gripping extremely well expressed exploration of the current pitfalls inherent in decisions on modern parenting.
Two close families become deeply divided when a child becomes blind through apparent bad parenting decisions made by the other couple.
The crisis reaches court and the sad outcome means there are no winners in this cruel tale of life.
An amazing sensitive portrayal of the dilemmas and consequences facing parents of young children today.
Highly recommended.

A thoroughly thought-provoking and compulsive read. The characters were well thought-out and convincingly real. Elizabeth & Bry are old friends, despite being completely different personalities. They know each other and share a deep love for each other’s families. Jack and Ash the husbands, also friends, add a real depth to the relationships. Both wanting to support their wives and both a little bit out of their depth.
The two daughters, Clemmie (Elizabeth & Jack’s) & Alba (Bry & Ash’s) are central to the storyline (Elizabeth & Jack have two sons as well).
The story also has regular, short italicised extracts from ‘onlookers’, representing a variety of views across society, from an online troll, to a social worker, a clever addition, reflecting the social gossip side of the debate - everyone has an opinion.
Emily Herd has effectively and expertly put forward all the sides of the controversial, difficult, hotly debated, topical, subject of childhood vaccinations via the events in this novel. I thought I knew what I felt, prior to reading this but it certainly made me reflect on decisions I made as a parent and what all young parents now face.
This contentious issue is fairly debated, mixing scientific facts with common misconceptions and leaves the reader understanding the decisions, that both Elizabeth and Bry have made.
What really makes this book a compulsive read, is the complexity of the choice that families have to make and the potential consequences of either decision. Either way they could be liable for a human tragedy, faced with the unthinkable, their grief and anger. You read on because you HAVE to see the events unfold, you are totally invested in the outcome.
This is a middle-class family drama, wrapping in the strength of friendships, grief, depression, parenting, marriage and survival, over-protectiveness, small town gossip but above all compassion. One of the final scenes had silent tears streaming down my face.
The underlying message I took away was that the ‘my child, my choice’ philosophy carries with it consequences, which have to be lived with. It can also make you re-evaluate what matters most in the world.
Totally recommend this book!

This was on trend and timely but I found it too slow and didn't connect with it. Sorry not for me, but I am glad to see other readers enjoyed it more.

“There’s risk inherent in every decision we make, in everything we do.”

Written with the express aim to set tongues wagging (as well as to entertain) The Herd is one of those novels that made me wish I still belonged to a book club. Controversial, divisive and compelling, the storyline centres around the hot topic of immunisation, specifically childhood immunisation and focuses on the lives of two women, best friends and neighbours, whose opinions on the subject differ wildly. Whilst Bryony and Elizabeth’s experiences may be fictional, the scenario they and their families find themselves in is highly believable which is why I have no doubt this is a novel which will encourage many vigorous discussions besides those concerned with the actual merits/criticisms of the author’s writing style and plot execution. In short it’s a conversation starter rather than simply a piece of creative writing and in many ways couldn’t be published at a more opportune time. When the whole nation is being urged to take up their Covid booster vaccines this novel could well end up being a marmite book, for obvious reasons, but I for one absolutely loved it.

Why did The Herd appeal to me as a reader? Well, first and foremost as a parent the subject matter is impossible to ignore. It reminded me of the furore surrounding the MMR jab that still existed when my daughter was very young and the pressure and worry that added to the decision making process when weighing up the pros and cons. Secondly as someone living on the author’s doorstep, in a seaside city with a previous history of lower than average childhood immunisation rates I was intrigued to discover how Emily Edwards would handle such a contentious issue. I wondered how powerful and persuasive her arguments would be and whether they would be presented in a fair and balanced manner. On reflection I think she does a terrific job!

Personally I feel the least said about the finer details of the storyline the better; this is a book best enjoyed if you only have a vague idea of what will transpire. Suffice to say it all starts with a daughter’s birthday invitation and more specifically an email sent to all parents of potential party attendees imposing one major stipulation prior to their attendance. Only those who can meet the stringent criteria will be welcome. The Herd catalogues the fallout arising from one woman’s decision to be economical with the truth, resulting in catastrophic and life changing circumstances for the two families involved although the rippling effects of said decision can be felt throughout the neighbourhood, by friends, extended family, and ultimately strangers when events take a dramatic twist, details of which eventually become public property. From one tiny but reckless decision no one can escape getting sucked into the ensuing drama ( even the new rather exotic neighbour Rosalyn at number8!) which begins innocently enough with an example of faintly ridiculous but overbearing dictatorial behaviour before morphing into something altogether more tragic. All in all this is an explosive, thought provoking, occasionally heart wrenching read.

Emily Edwards drew me into this middle class suburban family drama with effortless ease. Guilt, anxiety, deception, overzealousness abound in a narrative that sets off a chain reaction of emotions, not just amongst these brilliantly observed characters but within you, the reader. Like me you might swerve from anger and frustration to disbelief, shock and outrage, annoyance, surprise and sadness. However the more embedded you become in these characters lives the more you can appreciate their viewpoints and begin to understand their logic resulting in a bizarre feeling both women are right and wrong at the same time! I surprised myself at how I managed to regard both Elizabeth and Bryony in a favourable and forgiving light, siding with one and then the other. With these two central female characters Emily Edwards has expertly captured two very different parenting styles and the myriad of emotions mothers experience, from overprotectiveness and a perpetual feeling of anxiety and worry when it comes to their darling offspring to a more liberal laid back approach. But it would seem to me the one thing both women have in common is the fact they are acting out of fear. Owing to their own personal circumstances Elizabeth and Bryony have solid, valid reasons for their strong opinions on the matter in question. One woman’s opinions are heavily influenced by her past whilst the other’s equally firmly entrenched beliefs are rooted in the present so that it becomes impossible not to sympathise with both parties regardless of your own personal feelings. Although the emphasis is primarily on these two mothers you can’t entirely dismiss the actions of their partners Jack and Ash, adding a few surprising twists to further complicate matters. Continually shifting focus between the two women and their families the author presents both perspectives clearly, powerfully and passionately and in a non judgemental fashion. She occasionally breaks up the opposing viewpoints with commentary from various anonymous opinionated members of the public which adds a gossipy if often malicious vibe to the storytelling. Basically the author leaves no stone unturned as every possible angle is explored. She seeks to address the fine balancing act that exists between individual parental responsibility and the responsibility we all have towards fellow members of the wider community. The issue of imposing our own beliefs upon others is also a strong theme.

Does the novel deserve the hype? I think so! Overall it’s well written, well executed and despite being highly emotive I found it surprisingly digestible. In my opinion the quote that begins my review sums things up nicely. The fact I am still thinking about the content a month after reading the last page proves how thought provoking this novel truly is. On the basis of this book I’d definitely be keen to read more from this author in the future.

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Once again I have felt underwhelmed by a book about the politics of parenting. I keep hoping something will live up to big little lies and this book was ok but the chapters were too long and the characters all blend into one

A compelling domestic drama set in an affluent middle-class community which explores the theme of herd immunity and routine childhood vaccinations. The story follows the experience of two friends with a different perspective over the vaccine debate - one supports vaccinations but feels unable to vaccinate her daughter due to her other health conditions, the other comes from a vaccine hesitant family who believe the autism of an older family member was caused by the MMR vaccine. A measles outbreak results in devastating consequences for one of the children, leading to a hostile and adversarial court case and community censure against the other family. With no obvious heroes and villains, just victims, the situation described is completely believable, along with the description of the way community bias can escalate into bullying, blaming and fault finding.

With thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting and thought provoking read about the topic of vaccines - a subject I'd not expected based on the book's blurb.
It's very easy to read, I demolished it in one sitting.
3 Stars.

Based on a conversation the author had with someone when she was pregnant, this book looks at two families and tackles the very current topic of child vaccinations.

Elizabeth & Jack live in an affluent community, and have three children. One of their children, Clemmie, is unvaccinated due to medical issues as a child, so Elizabeth is vigilant about who is allowed around Clemmie.

Bry & Ash live across from Elizabeth, Bry being one of her closest friends. Bry has an autistic brother who lives in a residential facility - there, she has always been told by her mother, because of an adverse reaction to a vaccine.

I felt that this quote summed both Bry and Elizabeth up perfectly:

"Elizabeth kept all her receipts; Bry stored fivers in her bra."

When there's a measles outbreak locally, Bry and Elizabeth's friendship is tested to breaking point. As tragedy strikes, one of the women is determined to seek justice. But against who?

This reminded me of the kind of book that Reese Witherspoon would make a series from - and I wouldn't be surprised if some network picks it up. It would be an excellent series. The main cast of the two couples is brilliant, I felt that we really got to know the wives AND husbands and what was motivating them.

Where I felt a little uncomfortable was with the descriptions of Bry's brother, Matty. I felt at times that his autism was used for shock value, as if this was the worst possible thing that could happen anyone. Thanks to Elle McPherson's fella, the link between autism and the MMR vaccine has grown legs over the past few decades, when there is NO link there. This was addressed in the book, but I don't know if it went far enough. I would love to know what autistic people or parents of autistic children think.

The other thing I didn't like was that every so often, there was a chapter in italics from people not involved in the main story. I get what the author was going for, but these weren't needed imo and took me out of the main story.

Overall it was an interesting and timely read, and one that will no doubt prompt a lot of discussion.

A thoroughly interesting story about community/herd immunity against measles and the choice to vaccinate or not, with the consequences changing the life of one daughter. Split between events leading up to the measles outbreak and the repercussions afterwards, including taking the other parents to court.

It makes for a good read and is quite topical with all that is going on in the world at the moment!

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

What a good timed book! I really liked the juxtaposition of the two families. However, I did think that some of the anti-vaxxer situations/arguments could be misinterpreted and considered valid.

An excellent and timely novel - whilst some novels stay with you, it is rare that one will challenge your beliefs so well, even for a fleeting moment. Compassionately written with real heart, this is a brilliantly executed and novel storyline.