Wow this book was good. Ellie, Sofia, Rose, and Michelle made a vow to never talk about the night they discovered a secret at their high school. Fast forward. Ellie is getting married at a remote location. She was just kicked out of her next movie, and pictures from a past affair show up. Rose, who cannot stand ever being left out, is a new mother, who doubts her husband, and lives in her twin sister's shadow. Sofia, the wedding planner, is getting all of these bogus reviews about her wedding business. These three run into Michelle at this same remote location. Someone has gathered them all there. But why? and Who?

*I do have to say I figured out who the killer is and what their connection is to all of these people. So parts were predictable.

3.5 rounded up

You like vows, Sofia? Here’s one for you : I vow to make you pay.

It’s 2024 and experienced wedding planner Sofia is working hard for her best friend Ellie McLeod, now an A-list Hollywood celebrity, who has chosen a rather odd location for her nuptials to Mitch. It’s Cape Turmoil, an isolated lighthouse with accommodation but it’s Ellie’s choice and so Sofia will make it work. They make their way there along with their other best friend Rose and although the venue is quirky, it’s also stunning. They’re warned about the dark, with no paths or lighting around the cliff edges. A dark night, a dangerous cliff edge, bottomless champagne – what could possibly go wrong? However, that’s not the only warning the three get as it seems somebody is out to sabotage the big day. But, why? It seems that someone knows about the vow of silence they made years ago and is out for revenge.

This is an entertaining, fast paced, twisty, easy read with plenty going on to keep you interested in the drama. I like the relationship between the three flawed central female characters who have each other’s backs although each have their own issues. At times there’s tension especially between Rose and the other two which is an interesting dynamic, giving a sense of the jitters that’s not just about the big day. My suspicions fall in several directions but as the plot unfolds it’s not hard to figure it out, as it quite simply has to be, hence the 3.5 stars. I love the setting too, I always enjoy an Aussie location.

Overall, I would read the author again as she does keep me interested in the novel throughout.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

The Vow by Stefanie London is a thrilling read that delves deep into friendship, secrets, and the weight of a shared past. The premise is compelling: three women, bound by a mysterious vow they made twelve years ago, reunite for a wedding, only to find that someone seems intent on making them pay for their past actions. The tension builds as they face the consequences of a night they've vowed never to speak about.

The characters are complex and flawed, yet strangely relatable, and it's easy to find yourself rooting for them despite their imperfections. As their past begins to surface, I was hooked, desperate to understand what happened that night and who was behind the ominous threats. London does a fantastic job of creating a suspenseful atmosphere, keeping the reader guessing about the true nature of their shared secret.

The mix of mystery, emotional depth, and the intricacies of their relationships made this book hard to put down. It’s one of those stories where you can’t help but get invested in the characters and their journey, even as their past mistakes come back to haunt them. The twists and turns kept me hooked until the very end, making The Vow a compelling and satisfying read.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Wow! I literally finished this in a day. Kept going back to my book to read this as I had to find out what was going on. It is absolutely gripping and a serious page turner.

The characters are suspicious and have good number of red herrings and twists. Told in multiple perspectives and timelines this is a brilliant thriller. It has a good usage of visualisation and the character development and storylines. Absolutely want to read more from the author. Recommend!

Thank you Avon Books UK and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

As the description says "It’s the wedding of the year – for all the wrong reasons"
A real edge of your seat read, i devoured this in two big sittings.
Fab characters and an overall well written drama.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

The Vow follows Ellie as she gets married in a destination wedding. She invites her childhood friends, Rose and Sofia. This should be Ellie's happiest day in her life, but when things start to go wrong, she realises someone out there knows this is not the first vow she makes... Years ago, Ellie, Rose and Sofia promised each other they wouldn't tell anyone about what happened that night and now someone who knows has come back to taunt them... but why?

This book was so good I read it at the weekend. I think I would've read it in one sitting if it hadn't been for the fact I had to go out and get groceries. Ugh! I wish I'd planned better. I couldn't stop thinking about the book when I went to bedm so I snuck out of bed early to finish it before breakfast. You've been warned!

The story is di-a-bol-i-cal...!! where do I even begin? told from their respective POVs, it has two main storylines: Ellie's wedding today, and that fatidic night in 2013. Something I really, really liked was that this was a character-driven story. So this was quite "meaty" with good insight into what drives each character. I did feel a bit bad for them, the author did a great job emoting the sense of injustice that permeates life these days. Anyone can go online and say anything about you and you're presumed guilty until proven innocent. But... what if you're kind of guilty?

These are flawed humans that I strangely found myself rooting for! I wanted to know more about them, what drove them, and I NEEDED to know what happened that night and who was behind their misadventure!!

All in all, a great book!! I'm already looking forward to Stefanie's next book!!

Stefanie London's The Vow has twists and turns galore. It was a fast-paced and interesting read with a relatively unique plot. Friends Rose, Sofia, and Ellie reunite for Ellie's destination wedding in the Australian coast by a lighthouse. The lighthouse element of darkness and light rotating made the plot even more scary/suspenseful. Rose is a former swimmer and boy mom, Ellie is described as a young Margot Robbie, and Sofia is a wedding planner. London skillfully wove the three point of views of the friends with a changing time frame between when they were young and the wedding. This story would definitely make a great movie.

This was a quick and fast-paced read that I read over the course of a few hours. It centers on 3 friends named Sofia, Ellie, and Rose who are approaching their 30s while still holding onto a secret from high school that could ruin their lives if it gets out. When Ellie plans her wedding at a remote location in the countryside, bad things start happening to all 3 women and it's clear that someone knows what they did and is trying to make them pay for it. The story is told in alternating voices between the 3 women, with most in current time but some back when the "bad thing" happened.

The changing in voices and timeframes made the book read at a fast clip. The characters were distinct and it was easy to tell whose chapters were whose. I did think all 3 of them read as a little immature for their ages/experiences, in both timelines, but I still enjoyed their stories. I thought that parts of the book were suitably creepy and there was frequent action. There were also plenty of red herrings from which to choose as I was trying to figure out the culprit. When the villain was exposed, I was surprised (which is hard to do!) but it all made complete sense and I didn't know why I hadn't figured it out earlier. I enjoyed the ending and thought it tied things up for the most part, but there was one piece of the story that left a few unanswered questions.

Overall, I thought this was a fast and fun read and I'd recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very good mystery. I loved the way it was told from the different characters point of view between past and present. Very enjoyable and I devoured it in one sitting !!

This book was so good! I enjoyed the timeline flipping between the girls being in high school and present! I definitely did not expect the ending, especially when it was came to Rose.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Someone is trying to punish them or so it seems… as each friend seems to have things going wrong in their life. Years ago the girls made a vow to never talk about what happened but somebody knows. A fun weekend for Ellie’s wedding is beginning to look troublesome!

Quite an enjoyable thriller. Thanks @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance. I will keep an eye out for this author in the future.

Great book! Was so invested in every second of the story. Thank you for letting me read in advance. Cannot wait to read other things from this author.

This was a good mystery with some great twists that kept me guessing. I liked the overall storyline and was definitely curious to see how it would all come together.

That said, I had a hard time with the dual timelines and the constant switching between three characters. It made it a bit confusing at times, and pulled me out of the story a little.

Still, the mystery itself was strong, and I’m glad I stuck with it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this one in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Vow is a fast paced suspense drama packed with action, twists, and surprises. It centers around three childhood friends and the fallout from an unfortunate event that occurred in their past.

Sofia, Ellie and Rose are preparing for Ellie's upcoming destination wedding. Friends since childhood, they are excited to be together for this happy occasion. Sofia, a wedding planner, is managing all the details for the happy couple. Once they have arrived at their destination, Sofia receives a strange message pertaining to something that happened in the past, that all three made a vow to forget. As the day draws closer, more shocking things keep happening. They made a vow to never speak about what happened, so who else could possibly know what happened? Is the suspect closer to them than they think?

This was a fast paced, suspenseful read that leaves you guessing til the end. It's told through the perspectives of the three main characters and in a dual time-line. This was a crazy fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advanced copy

4 star thriller for me!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three childhood friends keeps a dark secret and someone is out to bring their secret to life. Great characters and story. Really enjoyed it.

This was a thrilling exciting read, Sofia, a successful wedding planner, Rose, a disgraced swimmer, married now with a young baby and Ellie, an actress who has just landed an amazing role.
The 3 women have been friends from schooldays and are as close as sisters. Ellie is getting married at an exclusive resort and the three women arrive earlier than the guests for pre wedding time together.
A mystery person seems hellbent on ruining their lives though as Sofia starts getting bad reviews, pictures emerge from Ellies past and Rose suspects her husband of having an affair. Could this be linked to something in the past and who would know when they made a vow to never speak of it again.
This was a real page turner, I loved the girls friendship, the sister code they had, Proof that all actions have consequences. An enjoyable read

The Vow by Stefanie London is a book for of secrets and the ways bonds are tested through the darkest secrets of all.

The Vow was a really enjoyable read that I didn’t want to stop reading once I got fully immersed in it because there were so many secrets that I desperately wanted the answers to and they are tantalizingly doled out sporadically throughout the novel in snippets of the past being told as the story unfolds in the present so many years later. This combined with the multiple point of views telling the story makes for a well laid out and well told story that induces so much anxiety and paranoia as you read.

I appreciated having Sofia, Rose, and Ellie all telling the story both in the present and the past as it gives each of their unique perspectives on events and lets the reader understand what happened and why they’ve become the people they are in the present. On top of this it helps establish each of their personalities and the relationships they have with one another, which really helps them to be real feeling characters that you actually feel for and learn to understand.

The plot was deeply intriguing too, between the threats to the characters and the awful ways their lives starts to fall apart, leading up to the answers as to why everything is happening. The story helps to unfold clues that lead up nicely to the reveal of who is behind everything, and I thought the little clues dropped as the story progressed made it very clear who was responsible and easy to put together to lead to a natural conclusion.

The ending felt a little abrupt in the sense that all is revealed and then BAM it’s resolved, followed by an immediate time jump, but otherwise it was a good read and did keep my attention very well. It was a fast paced read and I really enjoyed it, so definitely recommend.

This is a fast paced book with lots of twists and turns, focusing on a group of female friends in their teenage years and in a dual timeline some years later. The idea of sisterhood and strong female bonds is at the heart of this thriller and the personalities of the women shine out in the text.

In the past the teenagers are nearing the end of school and one mistake leads them to cover up a huge event. Years later when one of them is getting married in an exclusive resort a series of events starts to unfurl which begins to taint all of their lives.

Well written and pacy with some good original ideas, this is a good psychological thriller with a decent twist at the end which I didn’t see coming until just prior to the reveal.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Three childhood best friends are being tormented by a secret that they share from 15 years ago. When one of the friends is about to tie the knot, they all head to a very secluded area to celebrate only to find out that they are definitely not alone. Someone knows about what they did in High School and is determined to make them pay for it.

I really enjoyed this nail-biting thriller. There were a few times where I really thought I knew what the outcome of this story would be, but I was most definitely wrong. It was very well written and an overall fantastic book.

Wow wow wow! This is the first book I read from the author, but definitely won’t be the last. I was engaged right from the start as the story had a strong theme of friendship with each character managing their own life and insecurities. I also liked the fact that the book is written from the point of view of the different main characters, it really helped me connect with them. Then the plot really picked up and the twists and turns just kept coming. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to read more from the author.
Thank you to the publishers Avon Books for an advanced copy of this ebook and giving me a chance to review it!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of The Vow by Stefanie London.

The Vow follows three friends bound by a tragic secret from years ago. Ellie is set to be married and is an up and coming film star, Sofia runs a thriving wedding planning business and Rose has a successful marriage and child. Soon the lives of all three start to unravel when pursued by an unknown assailant with a vendetta. Everything comes to a head the night before Ellie is meant to be married and chaos ensues.

This book was a great thriller that kept me guessing til close to the end. It had good pacing, good character development and enough hints throughout to lead the reader to where they needed to go. The book had elements of the 'i know what you did last summer' vibe without being cliché and had great sisterhood bonds throughout.

The twists were believable and some I didn't see coming at all which is refreshing. I could feel like I was there and like I was invested in their stories which is always refreshing in thrillers which sometimes focus on the twists instead of the story.

I'll look out for others by the author (when I've finished my ever growing TBR!!!)

This is a great fast-paced thriller filled with twists and turns. I found the pacing was just right, with the flashbacks leading up to a big reveal and the explosive finale. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the three friends, making it clear that they at times felt they were held together by their wrongdoing, rather than genuine loyalty. This was a gripping read and I would definitely recommend it!

This book was good. The plot kept me interested and it was fast-paced. The character development was good too.

Creepy, mysterious and utterly compelling.

When Ellie, an up and coming A list actress, gets married, her two best friends Sophia and Rose are with her every step of the way at the remote and beautiful location she's chosen for the big event.

But the three friends, together with one other, made a vow to each other during their teenage years, and now someone is determined to make them pay.

This book was brilliant, so many twists and turns, absolutely thrilling. Loved every minute, easy to read and get lost in the story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book, the twists & turns were everywhere. I loved the friendship & the complications friendships & family cause. There was so much to consider in this book & I thought I worked out who it was but I was completely wrong. I loved the twist at the end but it was also sad. This books is fantastic & I couldn’t put it down but also didn’t want it to finish. All good things come to end. Get this book you will love it.

Such a clever book.

It was tricky to work out who was that baddie and why? If I had been part of that story there is no chance I could have worked out what was going on.

The plot develops smoothly and there is a nice focus on the close, flawed friendship of three girls - ok later on four.

The friendships were fragile and I was impressed how their relationships endured life challenges.

Unusually impressed by Malachi - a role model.

The actual ending was incredibly clever and very relevant.

Hats off to the creative and thoughtful author Stefanie London.

The vow is utterly brilliant! Stefanie London has a hit on her hand with this one for sure.
It's deliciously twisted and so well written.
Highly recommended.

A trio of friends with a shared secret. A long delayed reunion. A destination wedding with too many variables to track successfully. You just know something juicy is going to go down... And it does!

Sophia, Rose and Ellie have no idea what's in store at this lavish social event, where some very anti social behaviour is about to emerge. Can they emerge unscathed?

This story definitely juggles multiple themes: the challenges of maintaining secrets and lies, the foibles and frailties of female friendship, and the lengths we will go to escape a reckoning. Very entertaining, this one gets 3.5 stars.

The Vow follows three friends who get together for a wedding, but things are never as they seem, and things do not go to plan. Throughout three POV and two different timelines (one 2013, one 2024), we delve into the lives of these three friends and a terrible secret that they are keeping. Having the three different POV allows you to get to know the characters in-depth and how they feel about everything that's going on around them. We soon learn that there is someone who knows their secret and is out to get revenge. I did have my theories (which turned out to be wrong). It was a slow build, but there lots of twists and turns at the end, culminating in a show down! I really enjoyed this book, and like the rollercoaster it took me on.

After a couple of DNF books I started The Vow and wow this book was really good. The characters are well written and the story of these women kept me gripped the whole way through the book. This is the first book I have read by Stefanie London and it won't be the last.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
It’s the wedding everyone’s talking about – but for all the wrong reasons.
Twelve years ago, Sofia, Ellie, and Rose were close friends in school. One night changed everything, and they made a vow: never speak of what happened, never tell a soul.
Since then, their lives have taken separate paths. Now, they’re reuniting for Ellie’s lavish destination wedding – a celebration meant to be joyful and unforgettable.
But as the festivities begin, things start to go wrong. It soon becomes clear that someone is intent on making them pay for the past.
The women had sworn silence… so how does anyone know? And just how far will someone go for revenge?

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The characters were compelling and well-developed, and I quickly became invested in their individual journeys. Their flaws and secrets were revealed gradually, which added emotional depth as the story progressed. I especially liked how the narrative unfolded through multiple points of view—it really heightened the suspense and gave a more layered understanding of the events. While some twists were a bit predictable, the storytelling was strong enough to keep me engaged the entire time. Even when I saw certain developments coming, I was still eager to see how everything would unfold. There were plenty of unexpected moments along the way, and the ending was especially satisfying, tying things together in a clever and impactful way.

I thought this book was fabulous. The characters had a complex history and I loved reading about their relationship and how it expanded from high school to the present. The author was clear and concise. There were a lot of good twists and I loved waiting to see what would happen!

#TheVow #NetGalley
Stefanie London steps into psychological suspense with The Vow, a tense and twisty tale about friendship, guilt, and long-buried secrets coming back to haunt the ones who swore silence.
Twelve years ago, Sofia, Ellie, and Rose made a pact to keep one terrifying night a secret. They moved on—at least on the surface. But when they reunite at Ellie’s lavish destination wedding, their past resurfaces with a vengeance. From the moment the celebrations begin, strange and unsettling events unfold. Someone knows what they did. Someone wants revenge. And someone is making sure this wedding weekend becomes unforgettable… for all the wrong reasons.
Overall, The Vow is a stylish, suspenseful read perfect for fans of domestic thrillers like Big Little Lies or The Guest List. Stefanie London deftly blends old secrets with new betrayals, all wrapped in a wedding no one will forget. It’s a sharp reminder that some promises should never be made—and some secrets refuse to stay buried.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me an advance copy.

The premise of this novel is compelling: longtime friends Sofia, Ellie, and Rose reunite for Ellie’s destination wedding, only to have their lives unravel as dark secrets from twelve years ago begin to resurface. The author captures the dynamics of the complex friendships and the weight of hidden truths. Each of the characters is richly drawn, with their recent individual struggles—Ellie's career crisis, Sofia's faltering wedding business, and the underlying tension among them—adding depth to the story.

The dual timeline structure is effective, revealing just enough about the mysterious vow from their past to keep readers guessing. The transitions between past and present are seamless, creating a sense of urgency that moves the narrative forward. The remoteness of the wedding destination adds an atmospheric touch, amplifying the feeling of isolation and unease.

That said, the story and some twists, while satisfying, are a bit predictable. However, these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise gripping novel. The writing is sharp and engaging, pulling readers into the tangled web of secrets and consequences.

This is a twisty, layered thriller that will appeal to fans of complex mysteries and character-driven stories.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

The Vow was my first time reading a book by Stefanie London, and I was genuinely impressed. This gripping romantic thriller pulled me in right from the start and kept me turning pages late into the night. The plot was intense and well-paced, with just enough emotional depth to balance out the suspense. London does a great job of blending mystery, romance, and psychological tension into a story that feels both thrilling and heartfelt.

The characters were engaging and well-developed. I quickly became invested in their journey, and I appreciated how their vulnerabilities and secrets were slowly revealed over the course of the book. While a few of the twists and turns were somewhat predictable, the storytelling was still strong enough to keep me hooked throughout. Even when I saw a plot development coming, I still wanted to see how it would unfold.

London’s writing style is smooth and accessible, making it easy to get lost in the story. As a newcomer to her work, I can confidently say I’ll be checking out more of her books. The Vow was an exciting introduction to her storytelling—emotional, fast-paced, and just suspenseful enough to keep things tense without going overboard.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable and satisfying read.

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for the ARC.

The Vow is a fast paced twisted thriller that will capture your attention from the beginning to the end.

Three former high school friends are reuniting at an exclusinve lighthous location for the wedding of Ellie a famous actress.

All three of them, Ellie, Sofia and Rose share a secret that if it is revealed will blow up their world.

They made a sacred Vow never to reveal the secret or to speak of the incident again.

The wedding should be a joyous occasion but someone seems privy to that Vow and mysterious things start to happen.

None of them good.

The girls are on high alert and scared.

Payback is brutal.

This was my first but not last Stefanie London book and I highly recommend you spend an afternoon reading The Vow as you wont be able to put the book down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK/ Avon for the opportunity to read and review The Vow.

3.5 rounded to 4

The story was good and kept me intrigued. I did figure out one of the twists but not too early and it was fine! I liked the multiple pov as well as the jump in time.

Publication date June 19th

Sofia is a very successful wedding planner whose client list is impressive with some famous names.She is planning Ellie's wedding.
Ellie is an in demand actor who is about to star in a film which will lift her even higher. She is about to marry Mitch.
Rosie, who was a top athlete in the swimming world until she was found guilty of taking a banned substance.
The three friends took a vow to never speak about a fateful night twelve years previously.
As they come together for Ellie's wedding, things start to take a sinister turn. Is it something to do with that night? Who else knows as each of them hasn't told a sole.
This was quite slow at first, gently building the tension until the reveal. I didn't guess who it was. There are plenty of red herrings and twists to keep it entertaining.
The atmosphere of the wedding setting keeps the tensity high.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

*The Vow* is a gripping, suspenseful thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. Twelve years after a dark secret binds three friends together, their reunion at a wedding becomes the perfect setting for long-buried guilt and revenge to resurface. Tension builds with every twist, as past sins threaten to unravel their lives in the most unexpected way.

Review of ‘The Vow’ by Stefanie London, due to be published on 19 June 2025 by Avon Books UK.

Three former school friends, Ellie (Hollywood Actress), Sofia (Wedding Planner) and Rose (former Swimmer now wife and mother), reunite at an exclusive lighthouse for Ellie’s lavish wedding to Mitch.

The girls hide a secret, a Vow they made together with another classmate, Michelle, relating to an event that happened in their school 10 years ago. All agreed never to speak of it again.

Mysterious things start happening for the trio at the wedding venue - each girl has reason to believe that their past secrets are set to be exposed.

Accusations fly, friendships, relationships and loyalty are questioned, leading to a shock when the culprit is revealed.

Recommended read.

Really engaging book! I liked the change between the main characters telling the story. I had a good image of the characters in my head and warmed to them all and their backgrounds helped put the story in perspective.
A few little twists, one I had a suspicion of but not exactly how it ended up being portrayed.
I’d not heard of this Author before reading this book but will be keeping an eye for others to see if they follow a similar style.
Definitely worth a read!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this exciting and mysterious thriller although I did work out the twist early on but I don’t think that took anything away from the story. An interesting mix of characters and I liked the multiple pov telling the story. I really liked the friendship aspect of the story and the fact that they all stuck together. Overall an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

This author is new to me, but I enjoyed this outing. Three successful women, friends since school, made a vow never to reveal a discovery way back when. Now they’re all grown up and successful and Ellie is getting married. Sofia, the wedding planner arranges the wedding and it’s at a remote location. Each character has secrets. Ellie’s A list career has faltered, Rose has doubts about her husband and as the layers peel away, the veneer cracks and reality hits. They’ve been brought together for a purpose. But why and by whom? I enjoyed this romp. It’s well paced and the characters, whilst not particularly appealing are convincing and I loved the glimpse into their not so perfect lives. It’s a neat story and kept my attention throughout.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley fir an early review copy.

Really enjoyed this book.. Liked all the characters and it was good page turner. A great thriller that brings together the main characters and a blast from the past to the same destination. Coincidence? More than likely not! Thanks for my ARC.

THE VOW by Stefanie London is a fast paced mystery that will keep you entertained. I really appreciated the different POV characters, and that we got to see them as flawed individuals. Although I didn’t totally love the ending, I still appreciated the twists and turns and would recommend this book to someone looking for a quick read who enjoys stories of friendships between women along with suspense.

4⭐️

This had everything you could possibly want in a twisty thriller: secrets, jealousy, murder, betrayal - and an upcoming wedding for good measure!
Loved it.

An interesting setting, well-fleshed out characters, with good pacing and plenty twists. Would read from this author again.

This book revolves around grief whether it be Ellie with a Mum who refused to be forgotten in such a manner that she was willing to sabotage her own daughter's happiness with Mitch, Sofia due to the loss of her sister, and Rose with her great loss of swimming and subsequent estrangement with her twin sister of which she felt she was always second best in everything she did. While not family related, Michelle felt grief at school as she was constantly berated and given the nickname of Smelly Shelly. They all came together due to the loss of their gym teacher who enjoyed taking advantage of students due to his self perceived authority. They all came together for Ellie's wedding but in doing so, there was someone watching in such a way that was meant to destroy Ellie's acting career and Sofia's successful wedding business. Who it was definitely threw me off but it all made sense once she spurted venomous thoughts. The epilogue was certainly surprising but I was happy that all found each other again in such a way that was reflective of true sisterhood.

This book took me down a rabitt hole. Twists that I never saw coming. Fantastic characters that all interacted perfect together. The ended was more than I would have imagined. Fantastic book all around!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

This was my first book by Stefanie London and I really enjoyed the book. It had me gripped from the first page and I had no idea what was going to happen,
Back when they were in school a group of friends make a vow and promise to never mention what happened. 12 years on they have all moved on and have taken different directions in life.
Ellie is getting married but the wedding party does not go as planned and someone is looking to ruin them all.
The story was told through different characters points of view which really added to the suspense as the story played out. There were plenty of twists and turns and the ending was excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley, Stefanie London and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Read in 2 hours and 6 minutes.

I’m really glad that I read this book- it’s like plunging into the sea- exhilarating, intense, and a bit chilly.

The blurb didn’t lure me in but the fast paced, tense plot did- three women who covered up a traumatic event in their childhood, find that someone is sabotaging their life all these years later.

Film star Ellie is having a wedding on a remote island and wedding planner extraordinaire Sofia is at the helm to make her best friends’ event the party of the year.

Rose is always third wheeling her two friends and dealing with her own insecurity- who can she trust?

Read to escape the hot summer!

Thanks to NetGalley for this review!

It’s the wedding of the year, for all the wrong reasons… I vow to make you pay for what you did. Twelve years ago, school friends Sofia, Ellie and Rose made a vow. They promised never to talk about that fateful night. Never to tell anyone what they did. Since then, they’ve all followed very different paths but as they come together to celebrate Ellie’s destination wedding it promises to be a weekend to remember… It is meant to be the event of the season, but as things start to go wrong, they suspect someone is trying to punish them! Great read! This book had chilling suspense, murder, mystery, dark past secrets, and some crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I thought this book was amazing and I started highlighting and taking notes so I could write a review that reflected my feelings. Immediately you have a glamorous wedding and at least one giant terrible secret looming over three lifelong friends. They are back together for Ellie’s wedding, planned by Sofia, while Rose adjusts to being the only one of their trio with a baby. As someone who got engaged in college and had a baby years before most of my friends I related to Rose so much. Things just keep going more and more off the rails- there’s some animal death mentioned- and while I had some guesses on the twists, I was NEVER right. I had to google some of the Australian slang, and in a 2013 flashback Rose says “super cringe” which was NOT slang at the time in the US at least, but those are very minor things that don’t reduce an amazing thriller. I’m hooked on this author now, and I want a Swarovski crystal pen.

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗮? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂: 𝗜 𝘃𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱.“

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 6/19/25

*Thank you @NetGalley and @AvonBooksUK for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Sofia, Ellie, and Rose have a secret. They teamed up with a girl named Michelle in high school to sneak into school and change a grade on an assignment. Things went horribly wrong and they all vowed to keep it a secret. Years later, Ellie is getting married at an elaborate costal venue and her besties Sofia and Rose join her for the festivities. Suddenly, strange things start to happen, indicating someone knows about their secret... but who?

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
🌊Multiple POV
🥂Nonlinear Timeline
🌊Coastal Australian Setting
🥂Whodunnit

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
I loved the pacing of this book, I was drawn in from the start. Every chapter kept me wanting to know more... I found myself saying "just one more chapter" constantly. There wasn't too many characters or POV like some books can have. There were red herrings throughout the book, even though I suspected the culprit in the end... I still wasn't sure until it happened.
Fans of Lucinda Berry and Lucy Foley will enjoy this book.

TW: Death of a parent, sex with underage minor

#TheVow

3.5 rounded to 4

A few of the characters were relatable. The story was good but also somewhat predictable and the ending was a bit rushed. At times I found it hard to keep focused. The multi pov was well done.

Publication date June 19th

I very much enjoyed this destination thriller, describing a wedding like no other! If you like stories of difficult brides, backstabbing bridesmaids and murder, look no further!

Ellie, Sofia, Rose, and Michelle are old schoolfriends, Their lives have taken them all in different directions but when they all meet up again at a wedding, life for them changes..all because of a secret.

This is a smart read. it is modern and filled with drama and there is a touch of glamour.

I loved this book. for me it is the perfect holiday read and I loved the dual timelines. The betrayals, and friendships are highlighted well and as the story unfolded I was hooked.. for me this was a one sit read.

fun and well-done thriller with generally good vibes and a good writing style. would recommend. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

love this book so much. i enjoyed knowing who the characters were even when we switched point of view. not many can do this type of genre plot as well as Stefanie has.
you are left wondering what the girls did. why they vowed not to mention it. and just who is making all these cruel things happen? are they making sure the woman now, cant forget, wont forget. or is there something much worse to it all.
what we do know is as the woman come together they are all dealing with their own lives on top of this new risk it bring a tension throughout.
just when you get some delicious bits from one character you are pulled to the next. so you get re-excited each time.
i was left guessing and trying to figure out just what was going on. all the woman were complex characters so i thoroughly enjoyed reading all the in between bits not just the central plot.

I read this in an afternoon it was really fast paced with so many rabbit holes which worked so well. i just had to keep reading one more chapter. the mum what can I say glad I don't know anyone like that.

overall the characters worked well and the past trauma was interwoven well with current story.

really entertaining