I am giving this book a very well deserved 5 stars. Emily Edwards managed to deal with the topical and divisive subject, to vax or not to vax, brilliantly. She was informative on both sides of the argument but still kept the book exciting and a real page turner.

The story is told in two parts. The deep friendship between Bry and Elizabeth and their families and the courtroom scenes. We have no idea in the beginning whose child has been damaged or even if that child is still alive. As both girls are adorable, that on its own was enough to keep me reading to find out. I also enjoyed reading about the interaction between both families, the friendship between the children and the unusual friendship between the two husbands. This made it all the more difficult to decide whose side you are on during the final court room scene when both women had such a strong reason for what they did regardless of where you stand on the vaccine debate.

This book is about so much more than the rights and wrongs of vaccinations. It is about how far a mother will go to protect her child, how depression can shape a life, true friendship and the affect a severely disabled sibling can have on a person growing up and shape the adult they become.

This is my first read by author Emily Edwards and it was a good read.

We meet two families who are really different, yet their friendship really works. The mothers are Elizabeth and Bryony and both have daughter who are also close. Elizabeth's daughter was not vaccinated as a baby. Bryony holds a party but the children must be vaccinated and this is where the story really opens up and is surprisingly quite relatable with the whole getting vaccinated debate.

Unfortunately tragedy is lurking and there is an outbreak of measles and wow this story is really powerful. There is such drama in this novel between these two women and to read about these close relationships that because dishevelled makes for a very interesting and exhilarating read.

I liked the characters and the way Emily Edwards portrays these women and their families.

Thanks to NetGalley, Emily Edwards and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gripping, insightful, well-balanced and compassionate in taking on the highly topical issue of whether or not to vaccinate (this referred to MMR but easily have been COVID vaccine). Best friends, Elizabeth and Bryony are very different but they share a bond that has lasted decades. They live across the street from each other and are godmothers to each others daughters. But they differ in their views on vaccines. Elizabeth is pro vaccine but cannot vaccinate her daughter for exceptional reasons. Bry is against due to her family tragedy. They have always avoided direct confrontation until unforeseen circumstances has forced the issue, The choices we make have consequences.

While the topic is a central pillar, the story is all about how our beliefs and perceptions shape our actions and change our lives. I found the characters well thought-out and believable - from up-tight, perfectionist Elizabeth to relaxed but impassioned Bry, Their thoughts, motivations and dialogue were consistently true to character - I loved this attention to detail. So many beautiful observations of real people and real lives. I also appreciated the research that went into the story, and the effort made to show both sides of the debate. A well-written, thought provoking read, that makes you feel like you're inside the story.

This book opens with a preamble and a court case so the reader knows that it is about the so-called debate over whether to vaccinate children, and it is about related litigation.

It takes a bit longer to find out that this involves Elizabeth, who is married to Jack, standing in court and representing herself, while accusing her old friend Bryony, Bry, who is married to Ash, of negligently allowing Elizabeth’s daughter, Clemmie, to be exposed to measles.

There are twists and turns in the story and, what might be for some, an unexpected ending. There is more about the parallel lives of the two couples, their differing circumstances and their friendship. Elizabeth and Bry are very different personalities. Elizabeth is uptight and efficient while Bry is basically an old hippy. They appear to be unlikely friends but that is explained as well.

The court case arises out of a birthday party where Elizabeth has asked all parents of the attending children to confirm that their children have been vaccinated. The party is followed by a measles outbreak with disastrous outcomes.

I had a few problems with the book which presents different views of childhood vaccination through the characters. Elizabeth comes across as charmless in some ways and quick to turn against her friends but she is also the main supporter of universal vaccination. Bry together with her mother are sort of lumbered with the ‘my child, my choice’ viewpoint, although there are extenuating circumstances for them feeling this way.

Various other characters turn up, citing all sorts of information and speculation. Because Elizabeth isn’t likeable, parts of the book lean towards the anti-vaccination point of view which the book poses as a debate. I struggle a bit to see this issue as a debate preferring rather to view it as a health issue which has been hijacked by eccentrics who have caused a good deal of unnecessary worry for parents. The book has characters who recite their discredited views which, maybe, should not be given even this sort of airtime. A casual reader might think that vaccinated children still suffered the possibility of aluminium poisoning or autism even if this was rare. There’s a very severe case of autism illustrated in the book to possibly add to confusion.

I did like the way that the book unfolds the events through chapter timelines while the story is interwoven with the legal case. Also, it’s a good read, but it didn’t quite work for me and, truthfully, I would not want a book club of mothers-to-be reading it, discussing it and, inevitably, being drawn into the notion that this was a debate. I feel the same way about anti-vaccination supporters and Covid!

An extraordinarily topical book, with a theme of personal freedom in the time of vaccinations. Thought-provoking and easy to read, this is an emotional read, gripping and compassionate.

Why isn't this Reese's book club pick?! A really incredible and enjoyable read which looks into so many relevant topics at the moment, such as vaccinations. Wonderfully timely and extremely thought provoking - The Herd is one to look out for in 2022

A very interesting and topical subject for a book and both sides of the argument for vaccination or not are well explored. There will always be exceptions to the general rule and these two families both were exceptions in their own ways. My problem was that I didn't really like either family and found the middle class privileged lifestyles extremely grating. I struggled to make sense of who was with who for the first quarter of the book. I just didn't connect but liked the concept.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very topical and timely subject. Two families are torn apart by a decision. A little too topical for my liking. Well-written and a recommended read.

I have such mixed thoughts about this book! i adored the writing, loved the plot and the twists & the characters. I just think that with vaccinations and the pros and cons being the whole plot it just hit quite close to home now during the time of covid. i’m going to settle at 3.5 stars but i advise everyone to read the warnings and triggered and know what it includes before reading.

When I finished this book it was with tears in my eyes it brought out some many emotions and even more what would I do moments it was an extraordinary and amazing read.
So if you have read the overview of the book you will know what to expect and that’s exactly what I thought but it is a book that is so much more and many times I put my kindle down to stop and think and even now after I have finished the book I’m not sure quite how a feel.
What I am sure of though is what a brilliant read it is, written with compassion it fills your head with questions to which there are no easy answers, a book about friendships and how easily they can fracture, but this isn’t a book about what is right or wrong either it poses many questions of choice and makes you think and even at the end I’m still mulling it over and have so many thoughts in my head.
So all praise to Emily Edwards for a fabulous read one that I can highly recommend and I’m sure that if you pick this book up you will face the same dilemma as me and wonder what if that was me , what would I do !!
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Uk, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

THE HERD 📚
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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..
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Okay so I LOVED this. Kinda relevant to current climate because it discussed vaccines but this relates to a child vaccines and what may happen if you choose not to vaccinate your baby. I guess it’s kinda pro vaccine so it might not sit well with some people but it also really validates the reasons why people may choose not to vaccinate as well! I personally loved it and could genuinely see both sides of the argument and how unfortunate the situation was. Really hard not to include a spoiler in this review 😂 the characters were all lovely and you felt all their emotions and I feel like having a child myself made this book all the more devastating for me. I shed a tear at the very end too! Highly recommend!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found it eerie to think that this novel was largely written before we had even heard of the Coronavirus and yet how relevant it felt to what has happened to the world in the past 20 months. The situations reminded me so much of the time when my own child was young and I had to make decisions about his health and I was able to empathise with both of the central characters. The narrative was completely gripping and I raced through the second half, desperate to find out how it would end.

The only reason I have given it four stars and not five is that I never really worked out the relevance of the interspersed extracts from various other narrators, other than to point out the very obvious fact that there are lots of differing opinions on this highly controversial subject and that social media provides an outlet for some very extreme views to be voiced with anonymity. I could have easily done with out these sections.

This is a very emotive topic and one which will always be debated. Should we judge how other people bring up their children - no, but if it impacts on our children's lives then maybe.

I think most people will have very strong views as to which side of the fence they are on when reading this story. The author does manage to make both sides sympathetic even if you don't agree with them!

Enjoyed the book.

Thanks to #netgalley for ARC
I really enjoyed this book as it reminded me of a time with my own young children when they needed vaccinations and there was talk of do they cause Autism? There were some very tense conversations and friends were almost lost but not as severe as this novel in which one parent stipulates that other parents cannot bring their children to her daughters birthday party unless their children are fully vaccinated
Unfortunately her best friend tells her their child has been vaccinated when in fact she hasn’t had her MMR and consequently catches measles as does their daughter
Unfortunately their daughter loses her sight is that reason enough to prosecute them for making her blind?
Well that will be up to a judge to decide?

If ever a book was written about a hot topic then this is it!

Elizabeth has a little girl who was so poorly with seizures as a baby that she wasn’t vaccinated, meaning that Clemmie’s health relies on hers immunity through the vaccination of others. Her best friend Bry has a daughter too; Alba is invited to celebrate Clemmie’s birthday but with a caveat - only fully vaccinated children are welcome. A little white lie between friends….can have huge repercussions.

This book had me gripped. Vaccines are a subject that everyone seems to have a strong opinion about so it’s a very timely read. Would highly recommend with thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

Elizabeth and Bry have been friends for years despite their very different personalities – godmothers to each other’s children, confidantes and allies against neighbourhood gossip, until they find themselves on opposite sides of the courtroom in a war over childhood vaccination.

Elizabeth’s daughter can’t be vaccinated due to seizures and Bry is opposed to vaccinating her daughter, as her brother was diagnosed with severe autism not long after receiving the MMR injection and her mother has raised the family to fear vaccines.

Most people will come to The Herd with their own views on vaccinating, but the author does manage to present a very balanced approach highlighting the strong feelings on either side and setting out the reasons why people may or may not choose to vaccinate.

There is a sense of suspense throughout the story, as it becomes clear that something terrible has happened but you aren’t quite sure what or who was affected. There is also a twist which brings a whole new perspective to events.

This was such a difficult topic but such a page turner, even if some of the characters views and comments were hard to hear (particularly the third party commentary in the chapters in italics), and the ending was both satisfying and sad.

Well worth reading!

LOVED this book, the story sucked me straight in and I found it difficult to put down. The story is very timely, given the worldwide situation we've all been living through for the last two years. I felt that it really brought home how tricky and complex these decisions can be, there is no clear-cut answer that everyone agrees on and it's an incredibly emotive topic which means emotions run high.
I enjoyed the different perspectives and found I could empathise with all sides - for me, everyone was flawed and their reasons for how they reached their own decision were just as personal and valid as the next person. I thought the story showed how easily doubt and fear can creep in, both in personal relationships and also on a more public stage where it can become politicised and used as fodder by social media or the press.
Highly recommend this book, it will make you stop and think and question your own behaviour/beliefs.

A very topical subject in more ways than one. The dilemma that faces so many parents when it comes to vaccinations for their children. And of course, more recently, the concerns that the wider population have about being vaccinated against the current virus. Its a well written, though provoking novel which reminds me a lot of one of my favourite authors, Jodi Picoult. All in all, a good read.

This was an interesting and thought provoking book. It covers a very topical subject in the present time around vaccination and herd immunity. It follows two friends and their families and children. I found the first few chapters slow to start but kept going. It was good to see both sides of the discussion and how it affects friendships. The differing points of view throughout the book were good to get to know the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow, this was really thought provoking, had me gripped from the first few pages. Seeing both sides of the story, such differing opinions, but fundamentally, it was about two mothers, both concerned about the safety of their children.