So incredibly well timed. Vaccinators or anti. Add in families and best friends, childhood illness and personal beliefs and you’ve a domestic drama that is completely unputdownable! A really great book club read …. the post-read discussions will be lively.

A tremendously apposite novel in the current times, The Herd introduces us to two mothers who each love their daughters fiercely: Bryony and Elizabeth. Because of a medical condition, Elizabeth’s daughter Clemmie cannot be vaccinated and relies on the herd immunity of the children she mixes with. Elizabeth naturally assumes that this includes her best friend’s child, but when Clemmie catches measles, Elizabeth starts to ask questions and their friendship is sorely tested. After its dramatic opening passage set in a court room, where both women are pitched each other, the book’s pace tails off a little but never enough to lose the reader’s concentration. With its investigation of moral issues, this novel will endure even after the current pandemic is over, and it will be interesting to see how other readers relate to it. Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for this free ARC sent to me to allow me to complete this book review.

This book got interesting in the second half when the action ramped up. I thought the author did a good job with the two main characters, positioning them as best friends but with very different personalities and views. The first half for me dragged though and I would have preferred to get into the story a lot quicker. Overall though I liked the writing style and thought the second half of the plot was well executed.

Wow! I loved this book! Such an emotive subject that is very current!

Two families torn apart by one decision. Two families who will never be the same again!

A fast paced book with great characters!

I expected to feel irritated and manipulated by this story but oh this book is an absolute triumph! Few topics evoke as much passion and opinion as vaccination. Thankfully we're not talking covid vaccination but children's vaccinations. I am totally secure in my stance on the subject yet often found myself 'siding' with the other side during this story. Both sides of the story were conveyed so well. So thought provoking and emotive and it just got better and better for me. Highly recommend and expect it become a book club favourite in 2022.

This book is brilliant! I can say nothing negative about this one!! Absolutely brilliant from beginning to end.

Bry (Bryony) and Elizabeth are the best of friends. They live close to each other, their families socialise together and their young daughters are very similar in age. Elizabeth's daughter, Clemmie, was seriously ill as a baby and because of this is unable to have the usual vaccinations that young children have. In an effort to keep her daughter safe Elizabeth is determined to ensure that Clemmie only has close contact with other children who are vaccinated. When Clemmie catches measles and becomes seriously ill Elizabeth soon realises that her best friend hasn't been as honest as she thought.

The Herd has a very emotive storyline, particularly in the current climate. It was extremely difficult not to have bias when reading this novel however the author has done an excellent job of conveying both sides of the argument. Interspersed throughout the novel are the points of view of people involved in the story as well as complete strangers and this allows us to see the views of other people.

I couldn't warm to either of the female lead characters. Bry was too hippie-ish and flighty, whereas Elizabeth was too controlling and measured. I felt the characters were too different to be best friends, however their natures were required to drive the plot.

There are lots of moral issues raised and this novel would make an excellent book club choice.

WOW!!! What a timely book and what a fabulous read. I literally could not put this down. Elizabeth and Bryony have been friends for years and think that they know everything about each other. When the decision of one seemingly causes consequences to the other opinions are divided as to who is at fault or even if there is a fault. At a time when covid vaccination and "fake news" is a trending topic this book looks at the vaccination debate from a slightly different lens. Using an almost "greek chorus" like cast of characters interspersed throughout the story Edwards manages to get almost every viewpoint represented until as the reader you find yourself asking questions maybe of your own stance or at least understanding how some other views are formed. Everyone has story to tell and while this is the story of Elizabeth and Boy and their families there are so many others around them who are affected by the ripples of their decisions.

The Herd by Emily Edwards

The Herd is an absorbing read about friendships and the consequences of vaccines.
I flew through this book in a day, it was well written and engaging. The book revolves around Elizabeth and her daughter Clemmie and their friendship with Bry and her daughter Alba.
Throughout the book we meet pro and anti vaxxers, their reasons for being so and how their decision affects others.
It is a highly topical book, gives you something to think about and is definitely worth reading. However, the court case, which was built up from the first page, was bit of an anti climax.

This is a really engrossing, relevant read about the element of choice around vaccination. I found it informative and it really opened my eyes to questions that I’ve been privileged enough not to have to face in my life so far. It’s definitely recommend this book to anyone.

I absolutely adored this book! I couldn’t put it down & the ending was so simple yet magnificent. I didn’t see that coming yet it made perfect sense. I got really drawn into the characters and loved how the book alternated between the courtroom and the past events. Simply perfect! My next book has a lot to live up to.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good debate so I was looking forward to reading this book. I also encountered some covid vaccine protesters at my daughters appointment this week so it was very much in my mind. This book was very well written and being pro vaccine I was surprised how much empathy I had for Bry and Ash, particularly as Ash wasn't really happy with Bry's decisions to not vaccinate. This book is written so well and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I will not share any more spoilers as I feel every parent should read this book.

A really interesting and topical premise. I enjoyed the differing views of those for and against vaccines and that the author provided a deeper reasoning for the main anti-vax character than just the obvious ones. Good twist at the end. I would recommend.

With the current furore surrounding vaccines at present the opinions of some the characters could challenge some readers and make them pre judge this book and question the authors own beliefs, to me as a health care provider I found the book thought provoking and well researched

This was an easy read that I whizzed through. Everybody has an opinion on vaccinations. Best friends can lie and let each other down. The book’s opening sees them fighting against each other with opposing views leading to dire consequences. The book was well researched and topical with the current pandemic. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you, we featured this title as a Caboodle Firsts on Caboodle, the rewards programme from National Book Tokens.

The Herd by Emily Edwards is the story of best friends Elizabeth & Bryony, their differing opinions on vaccinations and the effect it has on each of their daughters during a measles outbreak in their local area. It eventually leads to a court case between the two women

The book is so timely and relevant to the discussions going on at the minute regarding the covid vaccines and it brings up lots of opinions on pro vaccine and anti vaccine to think of.

I really liked the layout of the book and how it was told. You have the main plot leading up to the measles outbreak and beyond being told from each parents POVs. Then there are sections in between chapters giving an opinion of someone who has come to court to see the case unfold, and their opinions on vaccinations.

The story was told in a great way and gave a range of views that were both pro vaccine and anti vaccine without pushing an agenda on to the reader and ultimately giving the reader a chance to make up their own mind about the situation.

The book was easy to read and kept my interest, so much so I had it read within a day. There was a twist at the end which I also enjoyed!

Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. It is SO good! It debates the issue of vaccines so well. In these times, were so people are more than even debating the vaccine issue, I feel this is a perfect time to release such a powerful book. It really cannot be missed and I cannot recommend it enough,

A hot topic, of that there is no doubt. For the sake of the narrative it was, of course, essential to tell both sides of the story, but I still felt slightly uneasy at how plausible some of the anti vax stances and characters seemed to be, to the point that I found myself almost questioning my own choices (strongly pro vax). But a well-written, well-researched and engaging novel on a subject that is sure to provoke heated debates in many a book club.

I almost did not read this when I realized it was about the anti-vaccine movement, as this makes me very cross. However, it was thoughtful and well written. The characters were all well rounded and I particularly liked the two men, who were devoted husbands, and their relationship with each other. At least Briony had a reason for refusing to vaccinate her daughter, as her mother had brought her up to believe that this was the cause of more than one family illness. Most of the people who are refusing the covid jab at the moment are getting their misinformation direct from social media. The ending proved that emotion and wishing to protect our children is why so many people believe the scare stories, particularly about the MMR. Medical evidence and statistics will never convince these people. The author does not say what decision she made about her own child.