The Herd: the unputdownable, thought-provoking must-read Richard & Judy book club pick

This book tackles a controversial issue (on which many readers have strong opinions) without being preachy, taking sides, or turning anyone into a villain. Elizabeth and Bryony have been friends since their college days, despite the differences in their personalities. Their friendship continues, even after they marry and have kids. Elizabeth's daughter Clemmie cannot be vaccinated, because her mother believes that the seizures she suffered from as a baby will resume. So Elizabeth makes it clear to her friends and family that Clemmie can only associate with children whose vaccinations are up to date. Bryony, on the other hand, has an older brother who is autistic and is institutionalized; her mother believes that he was fine until he was vaccinated. Subsequently, she did not vaccinate her younger children and has encouraged them to not vaccinate the grandchildren either. So what happens when a) Elizabeth sends out invites to Clemmie's birthday, with the caveat that all invitees be vaccinated and b) Bryony replies evasively? And then, there's a measles outbreak in the town where they live...This is an engrossing, although uncomfortable, read--the characters are realistic and well-drawn. What is even more interesting are the various onlookers (on both sides of the controversy), who keep commenting and providing their viewpoints. This adds to the realism of the story.

I'm halfway through this book and struggling to continue with it. I have tried to return it for a refund but Amazon aren't playing ball. This was £7.99 and I expected a really good read and it does not deliver.The main protagonists, Elizabeth and Bry are badly written and completely unlikeable, as are their irritating husbands and children. The author's attempts to make us "love" baby Alba with her dropped consonants only serves to annoy even further.The individual who claimed a link between MMR and autism was completely discredited about 30 years ago, it defies belief that these lengthy conversations and divides about it would be going on in an affluent suburb in 2019.It's almost as if the author wanted to exploit the controversy around the Covid vaccinations without actually being brave enough to do so. Don't waste your money on this.

‘The Herd’ by Emily Edwards is set in the U.K. between July and December 2019, and while set before the pandemic its themes are certainly relevant to the situation of the past two years and beyond.The plot focuses on two women, who have been best friends since university. They are very different with Elizabeth being one of those super-organised types very involved in local politics while Bryony is laidback and Bohemian. They live in the same street and are godmothers to each other’s young daughters…. yet there is one issue that will severely test their friendship. No further details to avoid spoilers.In her Author’s Note Emily Edwards gives details of a debate in 2018 between her husband and birth doula that had inspired her to write ‘The Herd’. Given its 2019 setting, there is a touch of irony for its characters near future.Given its themes, ‘The Herd’ is likely to be very popular with reading groups that are seeking to read a novel that explores this controversial topic in a balanced way. It certainly is one that offers plenty of scope for discussion. As a result I am likely to be proposing it to my own group later in the year.While enjoy is the wrong word to describe my experience of ‘The Herd’, I felt that it was a timely thought-provoking novel that held my attention throughout.

The story of two neighbouring families with their entwined relationships and different views had ke gripped all the way through, sometimes wanting to shout and sometimes on tears. One of my favourite books of 2022 so far! Must read.

Elizabeth and Bry are best friends and godmothers to each other’s children. They trust each other implicitly until one fateful day that trust is tested to its absolute limits - what happens has catastrophic consequences that shakes their friendship to its core.This brilliant book tackles the often contentious issue of vaccinations and vaccines. It is extremely thought provoking and explores huge moral and ethical questions. At times, it almost made me livid with anger. As a nurse, I struggled to understand why some of the characters chose not to have their children vaccinated, but the author writes so insightfully and empathetically that she challenges beliefs, attitudes and ideals so much so that, as strongly as I believe in vaccinations, I was able to feel for those on both sides of the debate. We never know how someone’s life experiences impacts on their judgements or how our experiences affect our decision making processes.As the author says in her notes at the end: “We all just want to do the right thing for those we love and we are terrified of getting it wrong”This book would be a fantastic book club choice - it’s sure to open a lively debate. I loved it!

As so many reviewers have said, the timing of this book is very apt. The vaccine debate is once more in the public's consciousness, this time raging around covid 19 vaccinations. How much responsibility does one owe to the rest of society when the decisions you take effects other people?The Herd tackles the subject of childhood vaccinations in a neutral but thorough way, with no judgement. Both sides are given a fair hearing, both are shown to be coming from a position of love for their child.Elizabeth and Bry are best friends, despite being chalk and cheese. God Mothers to each other daughters, both families are close. Elizabeth's daughter, Clemmie has not been vaccinated because of a series of febrile convulsions when she was a baby. She relies on herd immunity to keep her safe. Bry has been brought up to be terrified of vaccinations. Her brother is severely autistic and non verbal, his condition blamed by his mother on the MMR vaccine.Tragic events following a birthday party brings the world's of both these women crashing down. The story leads up to a court case where emotions run high and both sides feel sure they have right on their side. Interspersed within the main story are brief viewpoints from a variety of characters, that underline the depth of belief on each side.I admit to being invested in this story as I was unable to vaccinate one of my children for similar reasons, although she was eventually vaccinated when she started school. The Herd helped me to understand anti vaxers a little better, though not to agree with them. It is hard to be objective when the health of one's child is at stake.All in all this is well written and provides much food for thought. I would like to have read it as a buddy or book club read as there is so much I would have liked to discuss.