A fascinating book not least because of the really strong emotions in invokes in the reader as you go through the events with the characters.
Whilst I weigh in firmly on one side of the argument it was clear the author had thought very carefully how to represent both sides and how to do so through very relatable characters and a storyline packed fully of raw emotion.
From the demands of Elizabeth that parents reveal their childs vaccination status to remain not only a party guest but a part of their daughters friendship circle to the decisions made on the basis of evidence since proven multiple times over to be fake (and still being made in the world outside the pages of the book) the issues were tackled head on but empathetically.
A phenomenal read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK and Emily Edwards for this ARC in return for my honest review. A brilliant, timely and thought provoking piece of work. I was genuinely hooked from the opening pages and loved the multi-character perspectives. It definitely deserves to be a massive hit.

Superb! I was hooked from the first page! A very topical tale concerning the battle between strong minded parents over vaccinations! Beware young first time mothers! Brilliantly and sympathetically told concerning two couples both with young daughters. One strong minded mother with a daughter who suffered seizures as a baby and the other hiding a secret about hers. Elizabeth is holding a party for her daughter’s birthday but needs to know that all the little girls attending have been vaccinated. The whole neighbourhood gets sucked into the dilemma that follows. Who is to blame? Told with great sensitivity and detail. I could not put it down.

This is an interesting and thought-provoking novel about two families who are divided on the subject of vaccinations. Elizabeth and Bry are best friends and godmothers to each other’s daughters, but a measles outbreak ends their friendship and gives rise to a bitter court case. The story is gripping and there’s so much tension, especially in the second half. I felt really sad for the characters at times - there are many ‘lump in the throat’ moments - but couldn’t put the novel down. The author writes beautifully and leaves it up to the reader to decide about the issue of vaccination, which I liked. A strong, memorable and compelling read - five stars!

On the face of it, as other reviews have stated, The Herd is a story about whether to vax or not to vax - but for me, The Herd is so much more than that.
It’s about friendship, grief, depression, revenge and the affect of gossip and speculation on peoples lives.
Elizabeth and Bryony have been best friends for most of their lives. They live on the same street and they get together with their families virtually on a daily basis.
Elizabeth is married to Jack and they have 3 children,
Clemmie, Charlie and Max
Bryony is married to Ash. Together they have daughter Alba, and Ash has sons Theo and Bran from his first marriage.
They live in a small town, and although Bryony and Ash are well off, and Elizabeth and Jack struggle financially that doesn’t affect their relationship.
The book is starts in July 2019 with chapters from a court case in December 2019 punctuating here and there.
It isn’t initially clear who is involved in the court case but it is clear between July 2019 and December 2019 things have changed dramatically.

I’m preparation for Clemmie’s birthday Elizabeth emails the parents of the children invited to her party asking for assurances that the children have been fully vaccinated, and if not, she asks that they do not attend the party.
This is because Clemmie suffered seizures as a baby and can not be vaccinated, leaving Elizabeth relying on other children to be vaccinated so that Clemmie isn’t exposed to polio, measels, mumps, rubella and all other illnesses children are vaccinated against.
What Elizabeth doesn’t realise is Alba and Bryony aren’t vaccinated. Bryony was brought up by parents who are strict anti-vaxers after their son, and Bryony’s older brother Matty, became non-verbal and severely autistic after receiving the MMR vaccine at 13 months old. Bryony has been raised to believe Matty’s disability is solely due to the vaccine so has the view that she and Alba will never be vaccinated - despite this, when Elizabeth asks Bryony directly if Alba has been vaccinated she lies, and tells her she has.
Bryony, Alba and Clemmie, as well as others in the small town, are struck down with measles. Bryony has no choice but to admit to Elizabeth that she and Alba aren’t vaccinated.
Whilst Alba and Bryony recover with no lasting effects, Clemmie has to be placed in a coma. Whilst she survives, she loses her sight permanently.

What follows is a story of how grief and anger can be all consuming. How decisions people make and beliefs people hold can have a profound affect on the people you love the most and how small town gossip and speculation can vilify families and change lives forever.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Emily Edwards for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant. My read of the year without a doubt. Edwards tackles a morally tricky & very timely issue - to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. The characters are so well drawn and the discussion is dealt with with compassion on both sides. It's gripping - I was literally turning pages into the night. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I really enjoyed The Herd and found it really thought-provoking and timely especially given the current tensions around vaccinations and herd immunity due to the pandemic.

At first I found the first chapter or two a little slow and I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it but I am so glad I carried on; as I found myself stealing as many moments as possible to read.

The book opens in a court room with the former best friends Elizabeth and Bry pitched against one another and the story flits back to the time before and the court room.

This story follows two friends and their children and families.

They live on the same street and are close friends as well as neighbours, until one of the children fall ill and loyalties are pushed aside as lies are uncovered.

The POV changes a lot between the court and timelines and also from different characters, but this helps the reader get the different viewpoints really well.

This was a really character driven novel but also had a strong plot and excellent ending.

The issue of vaccines will no doubt rage on and the characters in this book come at the debate from all angles.

I thought Edwards dealt with both sides of the debate really well throughout The Herd.

I can remember my parents agonising over whether to give my younger brother his MMR in the early noughties but ultimately deciding to vaccinate but it was for a long time extremely controversial.

As a mam myself what happens to an innocent child is just every parent’s worst nightmare.
T
he court room scenes are incredibly tense with the final day uncovering a shocking revelation.

I think The Herd would be a great read for a book club or even an English class to carry on the vaccination debate.

Well what an interesting story this was!

Meet friends, Elizabeth and Bry. Friends since forever they live in the same street and intermingle like family. But they differ on the very important issue of child vaccination. Elizabeth's daughter, Clemmie, had seizures as an infant and, as such, Elizabeth believes that Clemmie can't be vaccinated on her doctor's advice. Bry, on the other hand, has chosen not to vaccinate her daughter, Alba. Bry was raised in a household who are anti-vax due to her brother apparently developing life changing autism in the days following his MMR vaccine. Bry's mother has spent her entire life campaigning against vaccination and pushing the notion of healthy immune systems limiting risk.

Inevitably, these two positions collide in a massive explosion when both Alba and Clemmie develop Measles. While Alba goes on to make a full recovery, Clemmie ends up in intensive care and ends up going blind due to the resulting encephalitis. This immediately drives a huge wedge between the friends as Elizabeth always believed that Alba was vaccinated. In her desperation she resorts to suing Bry and her husband in court.

This is a timely and current novel that taps in to many of the conversations that are happening around the world. The book is fairly evenly balanced between both arguments and doesn't tip in favour of one side, allowing people to reach their own conclusions. Both arguments and characters are presented sympathetically and you can appreciate the position that each takes and the reasons why - you even have sympathy for the husbands who, though less focused on by the novel, have differing opinions to their wives and this puts a strain on their relationships.

A fascinating read, I blew through this in just a couple of days but it keeps you coming back for more - I could easily have sat up all night reading it. I will be keeping an eye out for more by Emily Edwards.

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

This book hits all the current hot topics. Vaccinations, parental choice, the medical professions, infection control and herd immunity, We see two families with different histories, opinions and outcomes hit a devastating crossroads with huge consequences for both families. The story is extremely readable and the main characters are well portrayed as parents with different values and we learn about the very strong reasons behind those values. We join the family at the start of an idyllic English summer in a small middle class community that draws on real life news stories, fake news and the enormous responsibilities that parents face. Whatever your thoughts on vaccinations, this book will challenge your perceptions. It's a heartbreaking and endearing story with page turning qualities. I was up til 2am to finish it and am cursing the author today. Thanks Emily, A brilliant topical read.

The Herd is a timely story dealing with the issue of whether to vaccinate or not. Two families who are close neighbours, as well as friends, disagree on the issue.

Jack and Elizabeth have a daughter, Clemmie, who suffered seizures as a baby and is unable to have vaccinations as a result. Her parents are adamant that any children who come in contact with her must be fully vaccinated so that she is protected from contracting measles etc.

Elizabeth's best friend Bry hasn't vaccinated her daughter, Alba, because Bry's brother had a severe reaction to the MMR when he was a baby.

When inevitably Clemmie does catch measles, Elizabeth blames Bry for lying and putting her daughter in danger, especially when Bry herself and Alba recover from the disease with no repercussions.

This is a well-written book with rounded characters and no doubt the conversation to vaccinate or not will continue for a long time. Many thanks to Random House UK/Transworld/Bantam Press for the opportunity to read and review The Herd.

Really enjoyed this. Obviously influenced by the current pandemic but this is a question that has been current for a long time and which is really divisive and emotive. It was well written and I really enjoyed it and it kept me interested right to the end.

An excellent read re two middle class families who are neighbour's and friends. It centres around a very topical issue at this time - vaccinations. The choice whether or not to immunized your child.. can have a devastating result and will give many readers food for thought. Definitely a book to be recommended.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is about the rights and wrongs of vaccination, which is obviously a real hot potato at the moment. The illness in this book is measles and concerns 2 friends who have very different views on vaccination, which results in a court case. I don't want to spoil the story, but what I really liked was the fact that all viewpoints were represented and explored in a non judgmental way. I would definitely recommend this as a good read. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my free e-copy.

I read this book so quickly, within a few hours and I was hooked from the beginning. The language and flow I got on very well with.

This story follows two friends and their children and families. They live on the same road and are close friends as well as neighbours, until one of the children fall ill and loyalties and lies are uncovered.

I loved the basis of this book being around friends and vaccinations and whether people are pro or anti - all different views are dealt with and covered very well.

It does cover a great topic of conversation regarding immunization of children for a variety of different illnesses which lots of people feel strongly about for many different reasons and even though I don't have children myself yet it did really make me sit and question my own views and how I would feel and what I will do when the time comes. It seems like both mothers are just trying to do the best for their children and to protect them but is there really a right or a wrong answer?

I enjoyed The Herd very much indeed. It combines the middle class mothers at the school gates with the hot topic of vaccinations. Bry is vaccine hesitant and her best friend Elizabeth has a child who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons but is vulnerable to infection, How do these two manage their friendship and what happens when it is tested. The Herd manages to present the different arguments and shows both sides of the debate through the characters decisions and actions with empathy and compassion. Hugely topical and a good read.

Thank you to Transworld and NetGalley for an ARC.

A very topical book about vaccinations. The book centres around two families in a tight knit community. The mothers are best friends and one is godmother to the other’s daughter. The daughter cannot be vaccinated due to childhood seizures and her parents rely on herd immunity to protect their daughter. An outbreak of measles affects both families with a tragic outcome. A friendship turns toxic and the community takes sides. Lies are uncovered and a court case ensues,
I have to say that I guessed the ending but this did not detract from the book which is a well written emotional rollercoaster. The vaccine in question is the MMR vaccine but it could just as easily have been the covid vaccine. A great book for a discussion at book group. Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy.

I found this to be an interesting read giving both viewpoints of those for and against vaccines.
I found it a bit of a difficult read as a mum as I remember well having a lot of similar worries when my own daughters were due their MMR.
I felt the friendship if the families added to the story given they had such different opinions on everything, although none of the characters were particularly likeable and I enjoyed the build up to the court case. I didn't predict the ending, so in it held my interest, but I did find the beginning a bit of a slog to get through so feel it could have been a bit shorter, also I found the constant shortening of names (Bry and Ash) annoying and distracting.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

Thanks to Emily and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Herd before publication date.

Jack and Elizabeth Chamberlain are parents to Max, Charlie and 6 year old Clemmie.
Elizabeth is very vocal in telling everyone of how as a baby, Clemmie had a number of seizures and as a result, she could not be vaccinated. She rather forcefully urges everyone to have their children vaccinated, to the extent of excluding non-vaccinated children from their social circle.

Bry, Ash and 4 year old Alba Kohli live across the road from the Chamberlains.
The families are friends although the bohemian Bry is the total opposite of Elizabeth. Bry could be described as vaccine hesitant due to her own upbringing but is not confident enough to be open with Elizabeth about her views.

When Clemmie contracts measles and becomes seriously ill, the truth will be exposed and the community is divided, although all is not as clear cut as it initially seems.

Is there a way forward for the Chamberlain and Kohli families?

Every day, we make decisions based on the information available and our attitude to risk.
Emily has managed to describe how different people have taken the stance that they have, whether it is pro or anti vax.
As the story unfolds and the families unravel, we learn more about each of the characters and it becomes obvious that first impressions can be inaccurate.

The chapters are interestingly interspersed with narratives by unnamed people, some who have personal experience of health issues, others who will use any situation to their own advantage and a rather pathetic but very dangerous troll who enjoys stirring up anger among people who are unable to think for themselves.

As a mother, this was a tough read. I remember that fear when my kids were young, the furore over the MMR vaccination, the stories, the friends who decided not to vaccinate or went abroad to give their kids three separate vaccinations. Emily Edwards presents the arguments without judgement (an extremely difficult tightrope to walk) and within the framework of a friendship between two women, Bry and Elizabeth, two people who are completely different personalities, but somehow just get each other as so often happens in our friendships. The writing style is easy, capturing the depth of their friendship, their interaction with other friends and neighbours so naturally. The POV changes a lot and this was a little disorienting, but necessary as the point of the novel was to present different viewpoints. Overall, it was a very emotional read and a discussion that I think is relevant now that we’re all in the grip of Covid and discussions on vaccinating children. And reading it might just help us understand other people’s viewpoints, wherever we stand on the issue. And isn’t that what good fiction is about?

I’m not sure if I liked any of the characters in the book. At all. Don’t get me wrong the story was good and it’s only a little clunky here and there. Wouldn’t stop me reading the authors other book. My only thought is that this is a book of now. We are all aware of the dangers of not getting vaxxed.