Elizabeth and Bryony are unlikely friends and godmothers to each other's daughters. Clemmie, Elizabeth's daughter, had seizures whilst a baby and cannot be vaccinated, whilst Bryony has consciously chosen not to vaccinate her own daughter, Alba. This is because of her mother Sara's mantra that vaccines are dangerous and Bry's adult brother Matty being in a home due to autism allegedly brought on by the MMR vaccine.

Elizabeth throws a 7th birthday party for Clemmie but asks all the parents of children attending to confirm they are vaccinated. Bry hesitates, then acknowledges Alba is vaccinated, but Alba is only vaccinated against meningitis and pneumonia and hasn't had the MMR vaccine.

After the party, Bry and Alba become ill with measles and so does Clemmie. Bry and Alba recover but Clemmie is taken to hospital with encephalitis which causes her to go blind. Elizabeth and her husband, Jack, are irate and launch a court case against Bry and her husband, Ash, for gross negligence, refusing Ash's offers of financial compensation.

This is a well-written and emotive story, with both sides of the vaccination debate carefully balanced by the author. There are snippets of observers - a journalist, a female internet troll, a social worker among them - commenting on the case and the publicity it generates, which add to the background debate.

I found the characters believable, although Elizabeth came over as suffocating and obsessive. Bry elicited more sympathy because of the situation with her brother but needed to let go of her past and make choices based on her own feelings rather than being driven by her mother's. Rosalyn, the new neighbour, came across as kind and non-judgemental, unlike many of the others.

The outcome of the case throws into doubt a number of preconceptions that the reader will have formed whilst reading the story to this point. It begs the question of how far a parent will go to protect their child and - most pertinently - how we remember things we are told when in a time of self-doubt and emotional strain.

The two families cannot be the same after the case as before, but the ending suggests a more positive future for all of them. I felt this was important, showing that people can choose to be destroyed by something or learn to rise above it and face the future, however uncertain.

Emily Edwards is an author I would be happy to read again.

I received an ARC of this book from Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, in return for an honest appraisal.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The parallels with what we have gone through for the last two years are obvious, albeit relating to a different vaccination programme. I felt that the author wanted to give all sides of the debate, which is fine, but I think that the issues within the two main families over complicated the story. It is an important topic and I admire the author for tackling it.

This was a very thought provoking book.
Elizabeth and Bryony are best friends but have very different views when it comes to bringing up their children. I loved both the main characters as each had clear understandable view and neither was seen as being in the wrong. Bryony tells a white lie to Elizabeth neither woman could ever foresee the catastrophic consequences that follow.
It was clear the author had carefully researched the subjects in the book which only added to the believability of the story.
I would read another book by this author.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheHerd

As parents, Elizabeth and Bryony are very different, but somehow their friendship has lasted for many years. But when confronted with a stark choice - have your child vaccinated or don’t attend the party - Bryony panics and makes what she thinks is a simple compromise. But when disaster strikes, that decision will come back to haunt her.

The Herd is a thought provoking story about vaccinations and the truths and myths that surround them. Do parents have responsibility for others’ health when considering whether to vaccinate their children? Having become a parent myself soon after Andrew Wakefield published his, since discredited, research on the MMR links to autism, I know what a tough decision it can feel. And when Bryony is confronted by the facts of her brother’s life, this decision is made even harder,

I did find myself wondering how the story would play out - what is the right and wrong answer? - but the ending did not disappoint. Very cleverly worked and not something I had foreseen. Great read.

I really enjoyed the unbiased views that were presented in this book. For me, being able to read both sides of the story was really important and the way the author did this was really well done.

I also enjoyed the theme of intense friendships and how they can unravel as I've seen this play out in real life and as a bystander, it's always fascinated me.

I'm looking forward to discussing this book with my book club when we meet up next. I know which side of the fence I sit on and it will be interesting to hear other views.

I found this Interesting and topical - very well written would recommend this book.

I can imagine this happening throughout schools and nursery’s - the characters are great and realistic.

I received an ARC of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This seems to be the author's first foray into Adult fiction and, at least for me, a very successful one. The premise of this book is whether childhood vaccination should be down to parental choice or become compulsory. It is also about what happens when views are almost mutually opposed . Whilst not being based on the pandemic's vaccination programme there are lots of similar issues around society's expectations.

The characters are cleverly created and mostly likeable although very different from each other. The relationships between them and especially between Clemmie and Alba are well portrayed.

Whilst some of the narrative is predictable it does have a very unexpected twist in the final pages.

This is a very of the moment story- 2 mums who have been best friends since university, opposite in many ways including with views on vaccines. Ultimately this is a heartbreaking read at times but it is written so well that it sweeps you up. This would be a great book club pick.

Ooh, this one was delicious and timely. Vaccinations for children are a hot button topic normally and so much more so because of Covid. The two mums in the book aren't as great friends as they think they are. One of them in particular is controlling and tightly wound.
My sympathies see-sawed between the two families both before and after the terrible incident at the heart of the book. It's not a binary choice between the more careful family and the laissez-faire one. In the end, though, the author shows us whose side she is on.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Topical and thoughtful read about vaccination.

A very interesting subject especially now with the Covid vaccination dilemma facing us. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories twists and turns. The writer described the families and their interactions very well and I was totally sucked in to the situation. It does show what a little knowledge and the internet no doubt, can do to muddy the waters of health issues. That Dr who published erroneous information on vaccines and autism has caused such trouble and heartache for some. This book though it be fiction, should be read by all new parents, it may help them realise how important vaccination is in this day and age of travel and general mixing of populations.

I had my doubts about this book and am glad that I gave it my time. It is an intriguing tale that it quite thought provoking. Superbly put together and very much in the moment with COVID vaccinations as a daily topic.
Brilliant read for any adult. 9/10

A tale of our time, about choices and decisions regarding vaccination. Every choice has consequences, every decision we make has an effect on others..
I enjoyed exploring the themes of entitlement, fear, and misinformation.
What made me lose interest slightly was both Bry and Alba being referred to as 'The girls' or 'Ash's girls'....this choice of wording gave the story a very old fashioned feeling, Bry is a Woman, not a girl. Also, Alba was such a vivacious, lively character for the first part of the book, and then seemed to become an afterthought. Bry and Ash seemed much more concerned about holding onto a friendship with Elizabeth and Jack, than paying attention to their own daughter.
Overall, a good, interesting, and current theme, slightly poorly executed.

All parents face the dilemma of vaccination, something that has been a divisive subject for years. This is a brilliant examination of an ongoing debate with a great legal battle for those who like a courtroom drama.

Elizabeth and Bryony are best friends, neighbours and Godmothers to each other’s daughter. They trust each other to put the safety of their children above all else. Afraid of judgement, Bryony doesn’t reveal the entire truth about her daughter’s vaccinations and the result is catastrophic for everyone.

This is such a timely read given the health choices we have all been forced to confront over the past few years. The narrative goes back and forth easily, and the foreshadowing of some awful event compels you to read on. The values of motherhood are held up against a deep friendship, these two woman are polar opposites in terms of their lives and parenting styles. Despite the differences, the characters are believable and reading from both sides of the story propels you into the situation. Intense, thought- provoking and compelling, this is a book you'll think about a long time after you finish reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing the book.

The Herd is a different type of book I usually read but I really enjoyed this highly debatable read, this would be an ideal book club read as it splits the readers completely.
Elizabeth and Bryony have been friends for years, they are godmothers to each other’s daughters and live on the same street. They are divided though by the MMR vaccine. Elizabeth can’t vaccinate her daughter due to the infant fits she had as a baby and Bryony doesn’t want to vaccinate her daughter due to what happened to her brother when she was young. Both have good arguments but when Bryony lies about her daughter being vaccinated so she can attend Elizabeth’s daughters garden party it leads to very different lives for both women.
This was an interesting read and didn’t feel it was stagnant at any part, the characters were believable and likeable which really helped. I was prepared for the court part of the book to be boring but no this held my attention all the way to the end.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this Arc I received in exchange for an honest review.

The debate about vaccination has divided opinion. There are people on both sides with total belief that they are right. This story addresses both sides of the argument comprehensively allowing the reader to make their own mind up.
In current covid times, the subject of vaccination is debated daily. My children are grown up but I know adults and parents up and down the country agonise whether to vaccinate themselves or their children. There will always be people who can't be vaccinated for medical reasons and the question is "Should we vaccinate the majority to have 'herd immunity' in order to protect those who can't be vaccinated?"

This story works because the characters seem real and flawed. They all believe that their opinion is correct. I found myself arguing with them for their views. My niggle about one character is explored at the end (I don't want to spoil the story). A satisfying ending.

I've always enjoyed 'horns-of-a-dilemma' types of books. This is one of those books. There were a couple of points that bugged me from fairly early on but a little research on my part sorted one and the other irons itself out as the plot continues, quite dramatically in fact. Very enjoyable and especially apt at present.

I thoroughly was into this book, hook line and sinker.
I didn’t understand exactly how this was going to pan out for me as it was close to what’s happening in the U.K. at the moment with “herding” as regards to jabs/vaccines and Covid.
Except this is MMR and how many parents were scared or ignorant or didn’t want the MMR for their babies for all sorts of reasons.

The fictional families could have been so true to events it was unreal. I could just see the dilemma that many parents experienced. I was one of them. My choices weren’t what some had chosen to do within the pages if this book.

It also shows us….be honest.
It also shows us on how relationships and friendships are fragile and how us parents want what’s best for our child even if others choices are different they still have the same love, the same protectiveness over their child/children as you yourself does.

I got well and truly into this story. Focusing around the main two characters (mothers /friends) and could definitely see both sides.
Each one desperately living their offspring. Mistakes easily made having a domino effect on another with consequences unforgivable. And, unfortunate. But with well meaning at that time.

An engrossing captivating storyline that will truly having you question things.

I’m definitely keeping this author on my radar.

The Herd is very much a book for now with the debate about vaccinations and misinformation so prevalent.
But it is more than just that, its a story family and friendship, of how you can't always take someone and how they behave at facevalue.

Thought provoking.

I was given a copy of The Herd by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random house publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
If ever there was a book for the time we are living in this is it. The whole debate and consequences of whether to vaccinate or not are covered in this incredible read.
Ideal for a book club read.