Hard to put down! In a way, this resembles a book from a few years ago, 'Keep you Safe' by Melissa Hill, which has a similar plot but was told in a more twisty, commercial women's fiction style. Compared to 'The Slap,' and also sharing some DNA with recent insta-mum thrillers, the book focuses on perfect control-freak mother Elizabeth, and Bry, her best friend. Bry is portrayed in various ways throughout the book - as a great beauty, a dutiful daughter and nurturing mother, but also chaotic and seen as 'a thick hippy,' by some others around them. Bry is conflicted about vaccination, as her brother Matty appeared to become autistic after receiving the MMR, and her mother has drummed into Bry and her family that 'shots' are evil and must be avoided. Elizabeth has a vulnerable child, and when an outbreak of measles affect both families, they must make some serious choices. More topical than ever and dwells on the important question of how we are to survive as a society when we can't work together.

This is ideal for those who love a heated book club debate, especially those who like reading about middle-class mums at the school gate. The pro/anti vax discussion was more prominent than the suspense around the lie one of the characters told.. The court case at the end was interesting. With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.

Two Sides Of Coin,,,
A timely topic, handled with sleight of hand, in this thought provoking and evocative read. The plot is well considered, well crafted and populated with a credible cast of characters. There are always two sides to every coin and this presents beautifully.

A timely and dramatic novel showing both sides of an ongoing health debate, while presenting the reader with the dire consequences of a seemingly minor lie. Loved this read!

What an incredible read, particularly important at the moment given the current pandemic and how we're trying to heal as a world.
It's true, I didn't think twice about childhood vaccinations, I just assumed that it's something everyone does (at least in the UK).
If you genuinely can't vaccinate your child for medical reasons then of course you have every right to do what's necessary to protect them, but how far is it reasonable to go at times?

As much as I usually hate the phrase 'kids will be kids', it does somewhat ring true, Children will pick up every germ going by nature, they're sticky and sniffly for most of their younger years but it's all building an immune system.
When something so devastating happens, it's understandable to want to blame someone or something but what Elizabeth and Jack did really isn't the answer!

Edwards writes such a genuine tale with such high stakes emotion and sensitivity. The Herd is exactly the book we need after the last 2 years we've lived through.

What happens when friends with very different views on vaccinating their children encounter the hardest of consequences?
This is a thoughtful novel about the risks and consequences - medical and ethical / of the choices we make.
It’s also very gripping: what starts out as a casual remark between close friends ends up being tested to the extreme in the courtroom.
The novel does feel a little mannered - the the plot and the characters constructed (‘the control freak’/ ‘the hippy anti-vaxer’) to illustrate themes rather than as living, breathing humans.
But I was convinced enough to care and to power through quickly so I could see what happens.
Recommended: truly a novel that takes on the issues of our time and makes them come to life.

I wasn’t expecting this book to be about vaccines. I am a nurse and found this very tedious and too realistic. I’m sure most people will like it but it just wasn’t for me.

Sadly this wasn't for me. Started well and found it interesting and then it became way too mumsy, as a non mother I grew bored quickly. The subject of vaccines is tedious in real life, so as a book, whilst topical, was badly timed. Strong ending but lost my attention before that.

Wow this book doesn't pull any punches, it gives a hugely timely debate about vaccinations plenty of space for discussion and thought.
Best friends since university, , Bryony and Elizabeth have been everything to each other, godmother to each other's children, confidante, reliable and nothing can break them apart although they are outwardly very different people
Elizabeth's daughter Clemmie has an illness which means she should not be vaccinated and her parents rely on the herd immunity around them to keep Clemmie safe. She is very vocal about this and speaks out about the importance and moral duty of people to be vaccinated.
Bryony has her own secret reasons for not trusting vaccines but hasn't explained these to Elizabeth - and the moment has passed to come clean that her own daughter has not had her vaccinations.
Both sides of the argument are allowed space to develop and be discussed
The book opens in a court room with the former friends pitched against one another, so you know from the beginning that there has been an incident of some type - and the story flits back to the time before and the court room.
Really interesting approach - and a well told story

Absolutely LOVED it,
Timely - tick.
Beautiful prose - tick
Three dimensional, flawed and believable characters - tick
Compelling premise - tick
Unexpected twist - tick

This is a fantastic, thought-provoking and gripping book which would make a cracking book club read. Now, more than ever, there are heated debates about vaccines, misinformation and opinions that cause divides in families and friendship groups, and while The Herd is not about the COVID19 vaccine, the questions and contentions in this novel are familiar and timely. The Herd is about a life-long friendship which is tested when a child gets severely sick after catching measles and fingers of blame are pointed as vaccine status is argued over. At first this was a subject that made me nervous, particularly as Bry (the more sympathetic of the main characters) has been raised as an anti-vaxxer thanks to lifelong misinformation from her mother, but as the course of the novel progressed, the plight of all the main characters were well rounded and empathetic with the more extreme end of conspiracy theory left to interjection from side characters during the trial and later debunked. The way Emily Edwards handled such a huge emotive topic was really impressive and this is a great example of a "what would you do?" novel that will leave readers with a lot to think about.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I didn't know this was about vaccines. Had I known, i'm not sure I would have requested it. It's been a hot topic for a long time and the subject is making people downright nasty in today's world. It's sad that a friendship had to endure this. I have always respected other people's choices and have lived my life not worrying about their business. I can see both sides in this story and it's just heartbreaking to see the fight between friends. The book is good, don't get me wrong, but not something i want to read in my spare time with seeing this all over.

Never have I read a book which is so of our time than this one. This issue has been around for so long and has ignited such widespread debate (and hatred) and never more so than now.

Elizabeth and Bry(ony) are best friends and godmother to each others children and although they are very different people (Elizabeth is super organised, Bry is more haphazard) their relationship has always worked well.

That is until a little white lie (or lie of omission) changes the course of their lives and relationship.

This was a really character driven novel but also had a strong plot and excellent ending. The issue of vaccines will rage on and on and the characters in this book come at the debate from all angles.

This will be certain to get book groups debating well into the new year and beyond. Definitely a recommended read and a novel of our time.

Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This morning I saw a headline about anti-bad protestors outside a school in the UK, protesting about COVID vaccination for teenagers, and I was struck for about the twentieth time by how prescient this book is. There are very few times I am speechless after reading a book, but this is definitely one. A complex, layered, wholly character driven look at a complicated and controversial subject ‘The Herd’ doesn’t shy away from any part of it which makes this a confronting and emotional read. I am not going to ruin the experience for anyone by placing any spoilers here I will just say . READ THIS BOOK. ,

The Herd was a a very thought provoking and emotional read that is very relevant to the time we are living in. I was completely immersed in and gripped by the story of Elizabeth and Bry; two very different best friends and godmothers to each others daughters. The characterisation and plot are completely believable and I found myself constantly questioning my own allegiances to the characters. I don't want to give anything away about the plot of this novel so all I can do is encourage others to read it. The best book I've read for a while. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This is such a good read, it is written so beuatifully with momets that are nothing short of simply heartbreaking. it was so thought provoking and left me thinking long after i put it down, It will stay with me for a long time I loved it.