I read this book a little while ago, but it has stayed with me, it really is a page-turner. The characterisation was really strong and the pace was faultless. I would definitely read more from this author!

I enjoyed this book. The writing was fresh, the voice was engaging, and there was a lot of warmth and insight in the characters. I felt I knew them well.

This is a really well written book about a controversial topic. If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult then this is a definite read for you. I finished this book within a couple of days and I could not put it down.

This is not just a story about vaccines but about friendship, love, motherhood and tragedy. It really broke my heart.

Elizabeth and Bry could not be more polar opposites, where Elizabeth is assertive, organised and principled, Bry is gentle, casual and somewhat scatty. But their friendship works and works really well.. Both are happily married and are neighbours living in a small town where everybody knows each other. Until a tragedy strikes their street, something totally unexpected yet expected at the same time.
This isn't a story about what is right or wrong when choosing to vaccinate or not but a story about the conditions and background events which lead up to making that decision. No two situations are the same. Will their friendship ever overcome this?

I really enjoyed the development of the characters, their background stories and also the husbands perspectives. This story is told in many voices and I feel it worked really well. You don't have to be on either side to read this book and it does affirm both sides.

Well done to Emily Edwards on her debut novel and thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I have the paperback already for my bookshelf as I will definitely be coming back to read it again.

The perfect bookclub novel - I still can't stop thinking about the twist. This is timely and nuanced and an exceptional look at a subject that is anything but easy to untangle.

This book started off very slow and a little boring. But as the book progressed I did become a little intrigued to how the court case would turn out.
The topic at hand is controversial already and I feel this book could have gone a little deeper. But instead I found while it tried to stay netrual it came across a little more anti vax. Especially with how the case ended.

This is so much more than simply a vaccination vs non vaccination debate. Bryony and Elizabeth's long term friendship is stretched beyond its limits over the issue of vaccination. Elizabeth was told she could not vaccinate her daughter who suffered from febrile convulsions. Bryony has been brought up to fear vaccines with her mum blaming the MMR for Bry's brother's extensive disabilities. Elizabeth is extremely protective of Clemmie and makes this clear to all who come near her. When both Clemmie and Bryony's daughter Alba contract measles on the same day, Elizabeth blames Bryony for lying to her. The situation spirals out of control and ends up in a court case. What transpires is sadder than I could imagine, although the line the barrister took was the question I'd been asking all along. There are no winners here. #netgalley #theherd

When I started reading this book it very much reminded me of another book I'd read in recent times by Melissa Hill, Keep You Safe which is also an emotive read about inoculation and its risks vs benefits. The arguments put forward in both books are extremely valid and both books would make excellent subjects for book club discussions.

In this book, a Richard & Judy book club pick, Bryony and Elizabeth are parents of young children, close friends yet have very different parenting styles. Elizabeth is your stereotypical 'helicopter' parent, member of the PTA and is hyper involved in micromanaging her kids' lives. Bryony is far more relaxed. The book puts forward very balanced views of the values of different styles and is non-judgmental in its overall presentation.

I started off being quite envious of the closeness of the families; the husbands rubbed along nicely as well as all the kids, all being welcomed into each other's homes like one big extended family. Until the fated birthday party when it all comes crashing down around them. Elizabeth has sent an email to all the parents (which I felt was a bit over the top) asking them to confirm that their children were fully vaccinated and asking them to basically stay away from the party and keep their distance in future if not. Bearing in mind that the children have all been mixing at school and extracurricular activities I felt it was a bit late to be posing the question. But there again, I've never been in the situation where my child needs to extra careful regarding anything like this so I then questioned whether I would possibly be the same in Elizabeth's position. Bryony's biggest mistake was not giving enough thought to her answer to the question posed which sadly comes back to bite her later on.

I felt the author put across both sides of the arguments for and against vaccination and reasons why people's judgment could be biased one way or the other. She has clearly spent a lot of time researching the different views from both a moral and scientific stance. Is Elizabeth over the top with her later actions against Bryony's family? Was Bryony too easy going in answering the initial question so flippantly? There are so many viewpoints to consider in this book and as a parent it certainly had me evaluating the whole 'what if' my situation were different' in quite some depth in my own head. I don't think there is any right or wrong answer. We could argue forever on the subject and still never all of us agree.

The stars of the book in my opinion aren't any of the adults, but little Alba and Clemmie who absolutely stole the show with the innocence of the young.

Elizabeth and Bryony have been best friends for years, their lives closely intertwined, close neighbours and inextricably bound together, until one fateful summer in 2019.

Clemmie is Elizabeth’s daughter, a young girl who cannot be vaccinated due to seizures that she suffered as a baby. Due to this, she and her family rely on hers immunity - which is the aim that enough other people are immunised, which will reduce the risk of any infectious disease breaking out in the local community. However, the issue with this arises in the community of Farley, where both families live. Anti-vaxxers have gained a foothold in the community and a significant percentage of the local community do not choose to automatically immunise their children, which sets the scene for the issues that unfold.

I will stop there as I liked the set-up of this story - something significant has happened in the community but it’s not immediately apparent who has suffered, what they have suffered and what the outcome will be.

The author has said that she wrote this book following her own pregnancy, when her own mother and husband got into a debate regarding immunisation and whether it is right or wrong, and what the implications are of choosing to vaccinate or not. It is an interesting question and one that must be difficult for new parents, who are already overwhelmed with many decisions that have to be made regarding their children. Following the linking of immunisation to autism, by one single study, this has created a worldwide debate around whether vaccines can cause more harm than good, and whether they’re just a vehicle for Big Pharma to make money at the worlds expense.

I found this book really interesting and thought the characters were portrayed well, regardless of their point of view. This is an active debate that still rages today, and each side are firmly entrenched in their stance. I felt that this book did a great job of portraying both sides of the debate and demonstrating how it can impact people, even if they see eye to eye on so many other things - this can be the wedge that drives between them.

I really enjoyed this book and found it a compelling g read, making me consider my own views on vaccination and what may have led me to form these views. I would absolutely recommend this - a well-paced, evocative read with interesting, realistic-feeling characters.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just don’t know where to start with this book
Except for. I absolutely loved it.
It’s such a hard book to review, as I more want to discuss it with someone, than review it, as I am fearful of spoilers
In the book, we are introduced to Elizabeth; mother to Clem. Elizabeth is best friends with Bry, mother to baby Alba.
For their own reasons, they have made the decision whether they will vaccinate their children or not and it’s not really spoken about between the two
Until one day. When they need to talk about it. Because something drastic has happened. Did the parents make the right choice?

The book is a perfect book club book. In fact, I’ve recommended it to my own book club. There are so many questions that could arise out of this book and so much to discuss
I read the authors note on this book, as I wondered whether the covid pandemic has influenced her writing. It was so hard to believe that she wrote this book, before we were even talking about a vaccine.
This book is very similar to Jodi picoult novels and would be perfect for any fans of hers, and Diane chamberlain etc.
I cannot get this book out of my head. Literally questioning my morals.
I think it would be a hard read for a parent, but at the same time insightful.
I really do recommend this book

I just don’t know where to start with this book
Except for. I absolutely loved it.
It’s such a hard book to review, as I more want to discuss it with someone, than review it, as I am fearful of spoilers
In the book, we are introduced to Elizabeth; mother to Clem. Elizabeth is best friends with Bry, mother to baby Alba.
For their own reasons, they have made the decision whether they will vaccinate their children or not and it’s not really spoken about between the two
Until one day. When they need to talk about it. Because something drastic has happened. Did the parents make the right choice?

The book is a perfect book club book. In fact, I’ve recommended it to my own book club. There are so many questions that could arise out of this book and so much to discuss
I read the authors note on this book, as I wondered whether the covid pandemic has influenced her writing. It was so hard to believe that she wrote this book, before we were even talking about a vaccine.
This book is very similar to Jodi picoult novels and would be perfect for any fans of hers, and Diane chamberlain etc.
I cannot get this book out of my head. Literally questioning my morals.
I think it would be a hard read for a parent, but at the same time insightful.
I really do recommend this book

It's hard to review this book without giving spoilers but here goes...

The story essentially follows 2 women who have been best friends since uni and have young daughters the same age. Now, they're both godmothers to the others kids, and are bffs in the "one is neurotically organised and hyper vigilant, and the other is much more laid back and chilled type way. Then all of a sudden things change and Elizabeth and Bryony find they have a difference on belief on an incredibly important issue that threatens their friendship and fates.

The Herd is well written and incredibly relevant to our current way of living. I would definitely recommend it. Thanks to Transworld, Netgalley and Emily Edwards for the ARC.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. The premise of this book was what attracted me to it and I really enjoyed it. It didn't push for one opinion or the other, a very interesting book that I will be recommending.

I found it took me a while to get into this book but I persevered as the subject matter was of great interest. Really interesting perspectives and well written, if a little slow to start. Would recommend

Overall I enjoyed this book although I did get a bit confused with the characters as a lot had unisex names and I couldn’t remember who was who!
Quite a thought provoking story about social responsibility and herd immunity.
Would be a good book club read as it would provoke lots of discussion and everyone would have their opinions.

This was such an interesting read. I found that I was immersed right away and wondering which character would have which view... The writing was compelling and I couldn't put the book down! It feels more relevant than ever right now and does make you see things from other perspectives which is very cleverly done.

*Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

Elizabeth and Bryony are polar opposites but their unexpected friendship has always worked. They're the best of friends, and godmothers to each other's daughters - because they trust that the safety of their children is both of their top priority. But what if their choice could harm your own child?

With the current debate about vaccination raging, this book is quite fitting. While Elizabeth and bryony's reasons are quite clear and easily understandable, you don't really warm to either of them/ Elizabeth is too forceful, the husbands are too weak, and it felt like the author was forcing in every possible viewpoint about vaccination (including Bryony's brother, who developed brain damage after a regular childhood vaccination). I liked (in as much as you can like it) that the child who became ill was the child who *had* had their vaccines, as it would have been all too easy to make the child with the "hippy parents" the one who gets sick. The author doesn't seem to push her view on vaccinations on anyone, which is good. Overall, it was an interesting book but I wouldn't be in a hurry to read it again.

This is a very hot issue now...especially since covid and Emily Edwards handles it thoughtfully and uses science effectively and passionately throughout.

She also presents both sides of the argument with so much emotion...its very well done.

I am very pro vaccination....and yet found myself siding mainly with Bryony throughout this book...which surprised me greatly. I loved that Emily Edwards opened us up to choosing different sides by her nuanced and thoughtful writing. I absolutely hated Elizabeth...absolutely everything about her...apart from her views on vaccination....however I found her pompous and arrogant and just so single minded.

It reminded me of conversations over covid about masks and vaccinations and how sometimes when you come down too hard on one issue...you alienate people even more...

This whole book was so clever and carefully researched...I really appreciated the thought that went into it as the science is all there for us to see...but the emotion, and the heart wrenching decisions...are presented so well and are so fully rounded.

I highly recommend this book to all...whichever side of the vaccination belief system you fall on. The characters are beautifully human and I really couldn't recommend this more.

I will definitely be reading more by Emily Edwards.

This a thought-provoking read focusing on child immunisation and the social debate of whether children should or shouldn't be vaccinated. No matter your views on this subject, this book cleverly outlays both sides of the story without being judgemental or harsh, with a community having an opinion via the various characters weaved into this storyline. The writing style had me reading late into the night, and I was curious and excited for it to conclude. There is a lot of material for discussion, making this an ideal book club read. I do not want to include any spoilers, but I highly recommend this morally complex story.

This book was excellent. Grabbed my attention from the get-go and I thought the plot was both interesting and very original!

I ran through this book and was really interested to see how it would play out. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline all though some parts were beyond belief. Very well written