At first I wasn’t sure about this novel. I didn’t feel like hearing ‘the other side’ in the vaccine debate. But by the end of it I am glad I persevered. I really felt for (nearly) every character I came across. They felt real. Genuine. Like the man that lives down the road, or the woman you meet at a yoga class. I was surprised to find myself empathising with characters whose vaccine views I do not necessarily agree with. While I didn’t enjoy some of the things said about vaccines - I am definitely on the pro-vaccine side of the argument - I am glad that the more damaging claims (the “link” with autism) that people believe, were shown in their true light. The whole novel felt very middle class (and on the richer side of middle class), so it made me wonder in some ways what it would have been like to have an additional layer of class divide (not that vaccine choice has a class element. It would have had a deeper financial burden aspect). That’s just a general pondering I had. The storyline and relationships kept me interested throughout. It held enough intrigue with a mix of relatable characters and relationships to make the whole thing enjoyable. The only thing I wasn’t sure about was the snippets of random, unknown, usually nameless characters who played such a minute role that the whole thing could have been done without them. I understand why they’re there, but it felt like a certain significant event is introduced really early on bathed in secrecy. As though the aim is to surprise us as to the details. But I guessed at least some of the details early on. Omitting these sections wouldn’t have changed the book much and might have strengthened it slightly. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is happy to read about vaccine debate because if you’re not, you might find yourself getting more annoyed at the subject matter than enjoying it.

I loved this book. I can't deny that I am a massive Picoult fan and if you enjoy her books you will want to read this one by Emily Edwards. The book touches on the sensitive topic of vaccination and should it be made mandatory. In a world full of Covid 19 we each have a opinion on vaccines and our right to either choose to have the vaccine or to be safe in the knowledge that our community and neighbours have chosen to take a vaccine. Which fence do you sit on. Ironically, Edwards wrote this book pre pandemic and the vaccination referred to in the book is the MMR but the concept is the same. Our freedom to choose or our right to feel safe.

Elizabeth and Bry are best friends, they live near one another in Farley, their kids go to school together and are also friends, they are even God mothers to each others daughters. Life is perfect until it isn't. Clemmie, Elizabeth's daughter cannot be vaccinated as she suffers seizures. Coming up to her birthday party Elizabeth sends out invites but adds that only children' who are vaccinated should come and this should be confirmed with her. Bry confirms Alba has received her vaccine and attends the party. When Clemmie, Alba and Elizabeth fall sick with measles everything starts to fall apart The book has so much to offer, the test of true friendship, we see how far each mother goes to protect their baby. We also see that this decision is not clear cut as it initially seems. It is a book that will get you thinking and keep you thinking long after you finish reading that fnal page. Really good, utterly enthralling.

After reading the blurb for this book, I was really intrigued to read it, and I actually wasn’t disappointed. I did find it an interesting read that kept me thinking about the issues long after I’ve finished it.

The timely novel is based around two women who are polar opposites, but whose unlikely friendship is the backbone of their lives; they live close together, they’re godmothers to each other’s children and their husbands are also friends. However, one incredibly important decision threatens not only their friendship, but the wellbeing of their families.

I thought Emily Edwards has constructed a really fascinating look at a really divisive subject, presenting it in a sympathetic and compassionate way. I think a strength lay in the originality of the idea, but also the stand-alone mini chapters. I found them interesting, getting short snippets into opposing people’s opinions which I felt stopped the novel from becoming biased and preachy.

I did find some of the character choices a little frustrating, but not to the point that I didn’t want to continue. No, they’re not always likeable, but that’s what makes them more real and well-rounded.

It’s a shame I wasn’t reading this with my book group as I imagine it would have led to a very interesting discussion. As the novel tackles such a polarising issue, it’s pretty much written to create discussion.

I think readers of some of Jodi Picoult’s early work might find an interest here.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Edwards (brave woman) has, in The Herd, taken on the - for many - contentious topic of childhood vaccines. (In a foreword, she explains how she conceived of and started writing the novel in pre-Covid times; clearly the topic of "to vaccinate or not to vaccinate" has since acquired additional weight in a different context.)

Along the lines of Jodi Picoult, Edwards has addressed a contested topic through the medium of people's personal experiences and emotions - in this instance, close friends Bry and Elizabeth and their families. Which is not to say the scientific facts and context are ignored or minimised - they're not. But Edwards' focus is clearly on the people involved in her story and their own very personal motivations for the decisions they make.

Rather like Brexit, it's a polarising issue in which many people on both sides take an "us and them" position, unable or unwilling to find any common ground. What Edwards does here is to approach the subject with compassion, acknowledging the fears and emotions which can drive behaviour. There are snippets throughout from the perspectives of different people with views on the issue, and this adds further breadth to the story. (It's also a rather compelling courtroom drama, something I always enjoy.)

I read this book while I had Covid, so it felt quite timely, although the Covid vaccine debate is a little different as it's largely about adults making decisions on their own behalf rather than on behalf of their young children, and different issues and emotions come into play.

(And if I needed any reminder about the toxicity of the Covid vaccine issue, I soon got one when I posted on Twitter something which I thought relatively uncontroversial about how I'd probably feel worse if I wasn't vaccinated, only to find squads of strangers queuing up to tell me how quite unbelievably stupid I was. So, that was nice.)

The Herd is a timely and engrossing read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

At a time when the Covid-19 vaccine debate is raging, Emily Edwards even-handed and emotive family drama tackles another just as hotly contested vaccination debate with its focus on those given exclusively to children. Probing when social responsibility takes precedence over the “my child, my choice” argument, this is a book ready made for discussion.

As unlikely a pairing as they may be, middle-class mothers organised Elizabeth and laid-back Bry have been the best of friends for over twenty years after meeting at university. Now as neighbours in the village of Farley and godmother to each other’s children they know they don’t see eye to eye on every issue, but it’s never got in the way of their love and loyalty to one another and their families. Elizabeth and husband Jack’s youngest child, Clemmie, is about to turn seven but due to seizures as a baby, and on the advice of her doctor, she wasn’t able to have the standard childhood vaccinations and, as such, relies on those around her being immunised for her own protection. When already neurotic Elizabeth reads an article in the national news about a child dying of measles and learns that local vaccination rates are at an all time low in Farley, she fires off an email to the parents of Clemmie’s party guests querying their vaccination status. Bry has been conditioned to be fearful of vaccines due to her mother’s belief that her severely autistic and non-verbal elder brother’s condition was a direct result of receiving the MMR vaccine and, as a consequence her daughter Alba is unvaccinated. Whilst Elizabeth might suspect that this is the case, Bry’s response to her message isn’t entirely transparent and when Clemmie’s party has tragic consequences for one family, blame is quick to be apportioned. As the fallout tears apart their friendship and ignites fury in the local community with one family pilloried for their lack of social responsibility and foresight, for the other family, justice means taking the case to court.

Alongside a narrative that gives the point-of-view of all four parents but primarily concentrates on both mothers, the story is intercut with brief excerpts featuring the views of a cast of anonymous individuals protesting outside the courtroom who, by dint of personal experience, have an strong opinion on the debate. While these snapshots occasionally feel heavy-handed and superfluous given how coherently Emily Edwards presents the issues in the wider narrative, they serve to illustrate what a contentious topic this is and the harrowing consequences that can ensue when things go awry. Neither Elizabeth or Bry are particularly likeable or warm characters and this actually works to the benefit of the novel as I found it allowed me to be all the more objective about the situation that transpired and the raw vulnerability that it exposes in both women. That both Elizabeth and Bry have valid and completely understandable reasons for their individual stances makes this an all the more involving read. The late twist was something that I did no foresee and it is testament to the quality and maturity of the writing that it does not feel gimmicky in the slightest and in fact makes sense of everything. I am not even a parent yet was fully invested in this compelling, compassionate and quietly devastating novel.

I was very excited to read this book and I wasn’t disappointed.

Elizabeth and Bry live in Farley and are best friends. They are polar opposites: Bry is disorganised and ‘hippie’, whereas Elizabeth is meticulous and at times, she can be self-righteous. Both women have children, whom they love very much.

Farley has low immunisation rates amongst children, and Elizabeth, whose daughter Clemmie cannot be vaccinated because of the epileptic seizures she’s had as a baby, is very protective of her daughter. Clemmie’s birthday party is coming up, and Elizabeth sends everyone an email asking if their children are vaccinated.

Bry lies to her friend saying that her daughter Alba was vaccinated, where in fact she isn’t. Bry has reasons of her own, which she didn’t explicitly shared with her friend.

Clemmie’s 7th birthday party is a huge success. However, Clemmie soon becomes very ill. It also transpires that Bry and Alba are ill, too. It turns out that all three of them contracted measles. Clemmie ends up in hospital with complications and suffers devastating consequences…

Elizabeth and her husband, Jack, sue Bry and her husband, Ash for gross negligence. The case attracts huge media attention, and Bry is vilified online. It seems that everyone has an opinion…

I loved this book. It is very thought provoking and it explores a controversial topic of immunisations. Every procedure carries a risk and so do vaccines. However, in our society we are brought up to believe that we should vaccinate our children.

The author dealt with the issue with empathy, and in my opinion she presented both sides of the story equally well. The twist at the end was delicious, too!

Thank you to Transwordl Books for the e-ARC.

An interesting premise in our current time and it kept me interested to the end. I guess the importance of debating topics and keeping oneself aware of the differing viewpoints, but as a pro-vaccine person myself, there was a degree of frustration with the arguments against which are so often unfounded.

Worth a read.

Who doesn't have an opinion on the topic of vaccination? Even if you thought you were neutral two years ago, it's hard to imagine that anybody hasn't had to think about this. The Herd addresses many of these issues, mixes in truth and lies between couples and between friends, and plays with the readers' emotions. It's rather clever. It also reminds me of Jodi Picoult and Liane Moriarty books so much that every time it reminded me that the book was set in the UK, I had to remind myself it wasn't them.

Two friends - Bry and Elizabeth - both have young daughters who are good friends. Elizabeth's daughter can't be vaccinated due to fits in early childhood so her mother relies on the concept of 'herd immunity' to keep her safe. Bry has never told her friend that her daughter ISN'T vaccinated because Bry's adult brother has severe autism and Bry's mother had spent all her parental life drumming into Bry that Matty, her brother, was damaged by the MMR vaccine.

When something terrible happens to Elizabeth's daughter, she is hot on the trail of somebody to blame. Now isn't that a very 21st-century approach? The couples end up in court fighting over culpability.

Scattered between the two women's stories are inputs from others - those others being rather a mixed bunch of seemingly unrelated people. It takes a while to figure out that they are unrelated as they just appear in italics without names or descriptions. We have a woman with polio, an online troll who loves seeding arguments and pouring oil on the flames, and a bunch of other women (I think they are all women) each throwing in their few pennies worth. It's a bit odd.

The book did make me try to see both sides of the argument whilst retaining a clear sense of what's scientifically proven and what's not. Neither woman is likeable. At different times we side with each of them. I did feel a bit of sympathy for the husbands - one more than the other - but on the whole, this is a tale about privileged middle-class people and their lifestyle choices and the impact of those choices on others. What's often positioned as "My child, my choice" is quite clearly ignoring that not every child or parent has the right to exercise that choice.

It's clever. It's less manipulative than I expected, but somehow a book about vaccination that ISN'T about Covid getting released in the middle of a global pandemic already feels a bit like it's missing the zeitgeist. Interesting ideas, different perspectives, and quite a good pace all make this well worth a read.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my review copy.

The Herd, the thought-provoking and unputdownable must-read book club novel of 2022, Emily Edwards

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction, Romance

Well, wow. What a read. Did I like the characters? Not really, but empathise with them – oh yes, both sides. As parents the vast majority just what to do what they believe is right for their children, and sadly nothing in life is 100% risk free. We assess and make out choices as best we can.
I've always been very pro-vaccine, I'm of the age when I remember the threat of polio and the awful consequences. My younger brother had whooping cough, and it left him very frail. He died at just five after what should have been a routine operation. Vaccines preventing those kind of tragedies seemed like a godsend. I was also one of the first groups to have the German measles vaccine at 13, later proved such a gift when I was pregnant and my youngest child caught it. My poor doctor was so relieved when he knew I was vaccinated.

So I'm very pro-vaccine, and yet I've always been very Liberalist, very pro-choice. 1999, the year the ( later proved very flawed) Wakefield study came out was the year my eldest grandchild was born. Faced with a respected doctor saying the vaccines could cause serious harm, more harm than the vaccine, it made me think and reassess my stance. Ultimately after much reading and talking to GP, discussing with me the pros and cons my daughter decided to have him vaccinated. It wasn't an easy decision though, certainly not as easy as my decision to have my children vaccinated. That study did – and still does – so much harm.
Add in I'm reading this in Jan 2022, Covid times, when we're encouraged to have vaccines yet there are so many people who claim to believe in any number of different conspiracy theories. The death toll here in the UK is staggering, and for me far outweighs the “data” provided by the anti vaccines groups, that mostly consist of social media and YouTube videos. Much of it has been disproved but still people believe it. Some, such Gov control, simply isn't possible to disprove, and of course that convinces those looking for a reason not to vaccinate. We see in the book many of those theories repeated, so much of the “vaccine dangers” repeated with supposed proof. When a parent has what seems like a healthy child who develops an illness, a disorder of some sort its easy and human nature to look for a cause. Unfortunately many of those things develop at just the age children are having vaccines so its easy to make a link, whether its correct of not. I've done it with my brother, assuming his frailty was caused by whooping cough, when he may just have been born that way but those first few months took time to show he was different.

So here I am reading a book, full of things I've thought about, seen others consider, and reading it through the eyes of two best friends with very opposite views. No one ever thinks the awful consequences of not vaccinating will actually happen.
Its gripping reading, very relatable, very heart-rending on both sides. How do you ever recover from something like that. Is there ever a right or wrong answer?
Of course there's the twist at the end too, something ( the twist) I thought would be coming as its such a well written novel, and yet was completely taken by surprise at what it was.
Its hard to believe this is Emily's debut adult novel, it's so well written, made me feel part of the story. Even now after finishing I'm thinking “what if” and I felt so saddened for all the people involved. There really is no easy, “right” answer and The Herd shows this all play out in a very realistic situation. I could see events unfolding exactly as Emily has written.
Its a real insight into not just people's beliefs, but why they are that way, why they feel as they do. Once more it brings home the fact that most parents choose what they honestly believe is the best thing for their families. Every choice carries risk though.....

Stars: Five, an amazing read. One that kept me riveted, made me ask myself so many questions “in their position what would I do?”

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Two friends don't vaccinate their children for different reasons (one chooses not to, and the other can't), and the circumstances that follow one of their childrens' birthday parties threaten to ruin their friendship forever.

Wow, I couldn't put this book down!
There is a note from the author about this book being developed just before the pandemic, but it couldn't be more timely or appropriate. To be honest I'm quite sick of hearing and talking about anything to do with Covid (although it centres on a Measles outbreak) and vaccines, and was a bit hesitant to start this book, but I shouldn't have been. The author remains impartial throughout the contravercial (??) vaccine debate and shows all aspects of both sides, which I'm sure was hard to do.

I can't believe that this is a debut for this author because the story was really well written, with great character development. I found myself empathising with both mothers in the story because at the end of the day they both just wanted to do what was best for their child with the knowledge they had. What happened to one of the children in the book was really hard to read and just brought home how important the topic is.

This book is out now! Thanks to Transworld Publishers and @randomhouse for approving me to read this via @netgalley.

A thorny topic very relevant now in the light of Covid but also an issue that has been around for quite some time relative to children’s vaccinations.
Author is brave to tackle the issue

You should never judge how someone chooses to raise their child.

Elizabeth and Bryony have been best friends for such a long time, they live in the same street and are even godmothers to each others daughters, Clemmie & Alba, they trust each other with the wellbeing and safety of their children, but their views differ greatly on one very important issue, and it's this issue that blows their world's apart when a white lie told by Bryony before Clemmie's birthday party causes something to happen way beyond their imagination and that trust is broken forever.

As parents, we all believe that the decisions we make for our children when they are young are the right ones, and the reasons behind those decisions are made by choice, so we in turn should respect the decisions made by other parents. Unfortunately people are very easily led by what they hear in the press or told by a loved one from their own experiences, and that is what we see in The Herd, Bryony is acting on the experiences of her family and what happened to her brother, Elizabeth is following the guidance of her doctor when Clemmie was ill as a baby, both of them believing they are doing the right thing for their child. The idea of this story was born when the author herself was deliberating whether to have her child vaccinated back in 2018, who knew that three years later that vaccinations would be one of the most talked about topics around the world! The Herd not only covers this on point topic, but also that of friendships and loyalty, and how those friendships can be fractured beyond repair because of a choice that was made. It's a well crafted work of fiction that debates both sides admirably and really gets you thinking about this subject. It's hard to believe that this is the authors debut novel, her characters are so realistic and believable and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I'd like to thank Random House UK Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

This book was interesting and thought-provoking, especially given the current Covis-19 pandemic we are in.
It discusses vaccines, friendship, love, family relationships and everything in between.
The ending caught me by surprise I have to admit and I loved the last page, it seemed an appropriate way for it to end somehow.

Overall a good book, I'd be interested to read more from this author.

A gripping and thought provoking read which feels very relevant in not just the pandemic but as measles it’s becoming more prevalent because of the subsequent consequences of vaccinations. Great character development highlighting the constant challenging decisions parents have to make

I can't believe this is a debut book!! It is absolutely excellent!! I read it over two days and well into the night when I should have been sleeping!

The author tells us at the beginning of the book, that the idea for the story was sparked when she was heavily pregnant in 2018, and discussions were going on as to whether she would get her baby vaccinated. Little did she know that when the book came to be published, that this quandry over vaccines is now even more debated with discussions going on about MMR and the now the covid jabs....

Highly recommended.

This book was a fascinating read and so timely with everything that is going on in the world at the minute.

The Herd follows the story of 2 couples - Bry and Ash, and Elizabeth and Jack - who are good friends and neighbours. They both have differing opinions when it comes to vaccinations. This comes to a head when tragic circumstances threaten to tear the two families apart.

The story flits between the two couples, telling both of their tales in equal measure and it really does give a balanced view of the highly volatile vaccine debate.

As a parent to young children myself, I could empathise with both sides and many of the couples' thoughts and dilemmas mirrored those of my own.

A heartbreaking and tragic tale of family and friendship that I thoroughly enjoyed. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could.

A phenomenal debut, i was gripped by every page. The novel starts with two best friends facing each other in court. Why, we are not sure but there is growing sense that one of their daughters has suffered a life changing event. The subject of childhood vaccination couldn't be more timely between Covid and declining MMR rates, the internet is full of "experts". The story is so powerful, so moving and the characters are so well drawn they stay with me still. Both main characters flawed, both had both my sympathy and my frustration. Their pain so well described.

The Herd

Ok - so when I first started this book I was very confused and slightly underwhelmed. There are lots of characters we are introduced to very early on and it’s a bit much info at once. The herd tells the story of Bry and her best friend Elizabeth, their families and the small town they live in. This is a novel about vaccination. About a parents right to choose what’s best for their child, over a responsibility towards public health - so the timing is spot on. It definitely will spark debates - even some internal debates. I didn’t find them to be the most relatable characters, but it was a very moving and emotive read. It definitely gets you thinking. I thought the ending was quite obvious, but there was nothing to suggest it was meant to be a surprise. A really interesting take on the vax debate.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. I read this with a few book friends as we were all intrigued by this synopsis.

The story follows two mother’s, Bry and Elizabeth, both friends but both with very different views on vaccinations. Elizabeth has a seven year old daughter, Clemmie, who can’t be vaccinated due to a medical condition. Therefore Elizabeth is very protective of her daughter and cautious on who she mixes with for fear that any exposure to someone unvaccinated could lead to disastrous consequences.

Bry on the other hand has chosen not to vaccinate her daughter Alba. She has plausible reasons for this decision and these are explored a lot during the story. The biggest mistake that Bry makes is not telling her closest friend, Elizabeth, that she hasn’t vaccinated Alba and the reasons why. When disaster strikes the friendship between these two women and their families is put to the test. Living in a small town in the same street as each other, it would be an understatement to say things got tense.

When the whole story results in a court case things get very serious. The last section of the book was brilliant and I found it impossible to put down. Of the two women I really struggled to warm to Elizabeth. She was very controlling and when she distanced herself from Clemmie I felt nothing but sympathy for her daughter. The final scenes brought tears to my eyes and showed just how resilient children are.

I have to say I absolutely loved this one. It was thought provoking, tense and so cleverly written. It explored the depth of friendship, loyalty and our own beliefs. I must admit it had my questioning my own at points, that if nothing else, is a sign of a great book.

The timing of this is pretty perfect and the author does touch on this in a note before the start of the book saying that the idea came pre covid. The female characters were really well written, I found myself on an emotional rollercoaster with them, fighting their corner one minute then blaming them the next. I felt so caught up in the story it was really hard to not stay up to read it. My one complaint is the intermittent scenes from outside the court - I'm not sure I understood the point of this, but otherwise a really interesting multi faceted story