The plotting is superb. You're pulled down a path where you can understand why everyone takes the actions they do. You even suspect that you might have done the same yourself. You'll debate whether you should think of the potential harm which could be done to you or the harm which you might do to other people. Above all, you'll realise, as one character says, that there's risk inherent in every decision we make, in everything we do. My only issue with this novel was that I really struggled to connect with both Bryony and Elizabeth. I just found their choices and actions difficult to understand at times. That being said, I fell completely in love with Emily Edwards descriptions of children at play. I have never read anything with so much accuracy before, it made the characters of Alba and Clemmie so vivid in my mind. You could absolutely tell that the author is a mother herself. The vulnerability and innocence warmed my heart completely. This is a book unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are well developed, and various people around the court case balance either side of the argument. I connected to all four main characters and could empathise with them easily. I’d pushed for us to choose Sophie – she was the kind of mother I wanted to be. Strong, unafraid and incredibly kind. Alternative, yes (she had a yurt in her garden where she’d perform rebirthing rituals), but her life choices were rooted in experience and her shelves were heavy with books about birth and parenting. They were arguing because Sophie had just asked us whether we intended to vaccinate our baby. Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it properly yet, but was eager to hear Sophie’s wisdom, while James scrunched up his face as though her question had released a terrible smell. Elizabeth felt like afailure at both work and as amum trying to have both. Yet the husbands worked and were parents. Do you think they also felt like failures or expected their wives to take responsibility for the childcare?

I thought this story was well thought out and executed. I saw the faults, the strengths, the weaknesses and the emotion in both mothers and both families. The character development was top notch. Not just in the mothers, but also in the fathers and in a few other characters who played a larger role. In a story like this, there can't be an outcome that will be perfect so I loved that this book didn't try to wrap everything up in a nice bow. It was realistic and still satisfying. I definitely recommend and would not hesitate to read another book by this author. A masterpiece of emotional nuance, this novel makes you think. It challenges pre-conceived attitudes and beliefs and it turns your heart upside down and inside out. There are very clever short chapters on people drawn into the story but not directly involved and their feelings on the matter ( which by now you can tell I am not going to mention 🤗 ) At the outset it reminded me a little of The Slap, so much so that I read it in my head in an Australian accent, though it’s set in England. As the story progressed, I found myself losing patience with it. Had me so gripped I raced through it in two days. A story about parenting decisions, betrayal and friendships - guaranteed to spark lively conversations with everyone who reads it. Sarah Turner, The Unmumsy Mum

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Scattered throughout the main narrative are little snippet chapters where another point of view comes in-- a doctor, a journalist, a mother, an internet troll --all with differing opinions, and I found these short, hard-hitting chapters really effective. Here, the author does a number of things well. Arguments are made and challenged, the callousness of the internet and media is captured, and she explores why some parents try desperately to find reasons for their child's illness or depression or ADHD.

Each one desperately living their offspring. Mistakes easily made having a domino effect on another with consequences unforgivable. And, unfortunate. But with well meaning at that time. 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. Little do they know that they differ radically over one very important issue. And when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child's birthday party, the consequences are more catastrophic than either of them could ever have imagined.After studying at Edinburgh University, Emily Edwards worked for a think tank in New York before returning to London where she worked as a support worker for vulnerable women at a large charity. She now lives in Lewes, East Sussex with her endlessly patient husband and her two endlessly energetic young sons. The Herd, Emily Edwards, is a fantastic, timely novel of friendships, choices and what happens when things go horribly wrong due to our choices. Superbly written and a well balanced view of both sides of vaccination and anti vaccination. Emily has done her research, and in turn this novel is a must read! It had me from the get go, and released me 5 hours later when I completed it. Perfect for book clubs who will definitely want to discuss this one much further! Five stars! Rebecca, TAS, 5 Stars The inspiration for The Herd came when she was eight months pregnant with her first son, and her husband and their vaccine-hesitant doula had an impassioned ‘debate’ about vaccination in their garden. As she sat there with her hands over her huge stomach listening to them both, Emily realized this was an issue which impacts us all and that it would make a brilliant topic for a novel. I got well and truly into this story. Focusing around the main two characters (mothers /friends) and could definitely see both sides. I want to start by indicating that this novel is based on a very contentious issue of vaccination and herd immunity. But it does so in a way that does not preach for either side. It highlights the pain that may be experienced by those making their choice on either side of the debate. I found myself not wanting to put this book down, I was so engrossed in what would happen. It moved me in many ways and highlights the highs and lows of friendship. Life can be extremely difficult sometimes, but enduring friendship can be a salve for the pain.

This is a brilliant book for a buddy read that will encourage discussion. Thanks to all the lovely readers who read along with me. The Herd is a debut novel for Emily Edwards. It is set pre-pandemic and is about whether to vaccinate your children. Elizabeth is pro-vaccination and has vaccinated both of her boys. Still, not her girl, Clemmie, whom she believed could not be vaccinated, isn’t. Bry, Elizabeth’s best friend, is anti-vaccine. Neither she nor her daughter has been immunised. She has been bought up to hate vaccines as her brother is non-verbal autistic, which her mother blamed on him having the MMR injection. All is fine until Bry, Alba (her daughter), and little Clemmie catches the measles, leaving Clemmie with lifelong repercussions.It took maybe 10% to get into it, its full of yummee mummee and posy dadee characters that I couldn’t relate to but as the story progresses that doesn’t matter so much as the story builds