This book begins like every unreliable narrator book, however this book has several unreliable narrators so it was sometimes hard to know what was what. In fact it was not just one character who had a name change, but THREE! One thing that was a little different about this book is that it is the daughter who is protective and saves the mother. There was a lot of back stories with all the main characters and the different plots are released little by little and then it seemed to be a race at the end--maybe a little too quickly. Also there were some loose ends that didn't get resolved (Matt's threat to Jess), so I felt as if the story just kind of dropped. This story had a lot going on and some of it worked and some kind of fell flat.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

The Vow by new to me author Debbie Howells is a twisty domestic suspense novel that asks the question of how well we know the people closest to us. Our friends certainly, but more importantly, the people we are planning to marry.

Such is the case for Amy Reid. She is two weeks away from marrying Matt Rouche when he suddenly disappears without a trace. Frantic, Amy is beside herself with worry. Slowly, the reader is introduced to events that happened almost thirty years in the past that obviously are connected to Amy but is not made clear for over two-thirds of the book. In addition, the reader is also made aware that Matt is seeing another woman behind Amy’s back and is apparently set to leave Amy for this woman when he disappeared.

Throw in the fact that in addition to learning about this woman, Amy also learns that Matt made advances to her best friend and had a fling with the wedding planner. My head began to spin, and I started to feel dizzy from all the back and forth.

Insights into the relationship between Amy and Matt also reveal a sinister side that depicts Matt as an abusive man who regularly gaslights Amy. Amy’s daughter, Jess, doesn’t trust Matt and thinks he was out to get Amy’s money, due to his repeated attempts to pressure Amy to sell her house. When evidence starts to appear that implicates Amy in Matt’s disappearance and numerous people convey to the police during questioning that Amy is unstable, it became hard for me to know who the real victims and suspects were.

I thought this story was engaging and interesting. I was anxious to find out what was going on. I didn’t want to believe Amy was behind Matt’s disappearance and the story begins right around his disappearance, so it was difficult for me to get to know Matt. All I had was hearsay, theories and opinions from other people. Amy comes across as frantic, who wouldn’t be given the circumstances, and a bit whiny when trying to convince the police she is innocent and being set up.

I never liked the other woman, Fiona at all. I had no respect for this character and felt she had no integrity for messing around with a man she knows is already in a relationship. I was a little surprised when the connection between Amy and Fiona is made clear, but I was still confused about what it all had to do with Matt’s disappearance.

My favorite character was Amy’s daughter, Jess. For a university student who doesn’t have a lot of years of life experience, she displays a cool head, steady emotions and sharp logic in her attempts to get to the truth and help her mother. Amy is lucky to have such a wonderful daughter.

The plot moves a bit slow but begins to pick up as more happens. I began this book with the audio format and really tried to restrain my annoyance at Amy’s whining knowing that I most likely would come across the same way in her shoes. I finished the book with the Kindle format and recommend this format over the audiobook for that reason.

My Final Verdict: Overall, readers who enjoy stories that are twisty in the suspense and thriller genre should grab this book. If this genre isn’t your cup of tea, this author has published several books in the women’s fiction and romance genres as well. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author as she writes in all of my favorite genres.

Thank you to the publisher, Avon Books UK, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

I perceived with this book but I really struggled with it and did not enjoy it. Have tried this author before and struggled with her. I guess she is just not for me.

This book started out fast paced and addicting but fell off for me towards the middle. I liked the idea of the plot and was intrigued but the execution didn’t keep me engaged after the middle of the book.

I’m looking forward to reading more from this author as I think there is promise, but this book wasn’t for me unfortunately.

Amy is bursting with excitement. She has two weeks in which to put the finishing touches to her wedding to Mr Perfect, and waits anxiously for him to come home to discuss the details. He fails to arrive. Okay, he called to say he was taking an important new client to dinner , but still, he should have been here by now. She gives up, goes to bed and wakes up to an empty bed. After phoning friends, and leaving messages for his parents – whom she has never met, by the way, she finally phones the police.

So that, briefly is the premise – Nervous bride who;s been round the block a couple of times, so is no Spring chicken, absentee partner,, and – what’s this? He’s been having an affair with another woman! Oh lawdy – never saw that on coming. So Matt – Mr Perfect – is actually a rat who has deceived poor Amy all along. I’m actually worried for Amy’s health as her stomach churns on such a regular basis, she should really see a doctor. Based on her behaviour I thought she was a bride in the first flush of youth, but given that this is her second time around, and she has a daughter old enough to be at university, she is probably late 30’s early 40’s. Why, then, did she not think to check things out on the internet? It’s as if it doesn’t exist in her world, but if your first marriage ends in divorce, with an ex who doesn’t give two figs about his daughter, wouldn’t you be checking this new man on t’internet? Jess, Amy’s daughter, is the one who starts to dig around for information. She suggests that Matt the Rat is a psychopath to which Amy replies….”...he’s no psychopath. If he was, I’d have noticed.” Really? Doesn’t she realise they walk among us and are often not recognised as such. And psychopaths aren’t necessarily Bad People. Another of Amy’s little gems…”...I’m a healer, you know I am. I’m not a killer”. I think Harold Shipman thought of himself in the same light. There’s more of this sort of nonsense, some of it from The Other Woman.

Running alongside this tale of woe is a History of Awful Deeds perpetrated by young teenagers decades before. So – who is Amy really? Who is The Other Woman? Oh the tangled web they’ve all woven….but no, I’ll stop there in case I spoil it for anyone else with enough time to devote to this over worked, overly long, convoluted tale because, frankly my dears….I don’t give a hoot.

The writing is not good, often clunky. None of the characters has anything going for them, especially Amy who is actually a bit stupid. The time line hops back and forth which is just plain irritating. Enough is enough, I’ve read far more than I intended, but now I need to go watch my nails grow.

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC download. I will not be looking for anything else by this author.

The Vow by Debbie Howells is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark side of love and obsession.
The story follows Beth, who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of her past, and her husband, who claims they were about to renew their wedding vows.
But as Beth tries to piece together her life, she discovers that nothing is as it seems, and that her husband may be hiding a terrible secret.

Now this was a page turner! I enjoyed this from the start.
I was totally gripped as the story unfolded. Characters were revealed bit by bit so youre not really sure who has done what until right at the end. I would highly recommend this.

Everything was perfect, and then her fiancée disappeared...

When Amy is stopped by a stranger in the street two weeks before her wedding and warned she's in danger, she thinks nothing of it. But then that night, Matt, her fiancé, doesn’t come home.

Desperate, Amy calls the police – but when Matt fails to emerge, she’s forced to call off her wedding day.

Then another man is reported missing, by a woman called Fiona – a man meeting Matt’s description, who was about to leave his fiancée for her. He was supposed to be moving in with her – but instead, he’s vanished.

Amy refuses to believe Fiona’s lover can be her Matt – but photos prove otherwise, and it soon becomes clear that Matt has been leading a double life.

As the police dig deeper, two conflicting, yet equally plausible stories emerge from two women who allegedly have never met.

This is such a good novel! Difficult to review without giving anything away, but I loved it.

A good thriller with a tense plot.
The characters are very well developed.
There is a lot of suspense in this book. A good read

This was the first book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. I was completely hooked from the very start. Who was telling the truth? Amy or Fiona? I did work out the truth before it was revealed but not much before! Great story. Would recommend.

This is the first book I've red by Debbie Howells. I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. Well written! Highly recommend!

Amy is looking forward to her forever after with Matt. Funny thing is Matt doesn’t show. A missing persons repot brings Fiona into Amy’s life. Complete with photographic proof they may be sharing more than missing fiancé’s the two begin a journey that will mark both . It’s a story of resolve and support that will have you cheering .

Couldn’t get past the first few pages. I didn’t like the mix in tenses and the writing just didn’t flow easily for me.

I felt like this book started out very strong, and continued that way until about halfway through….and then it kind of fell flat for me. The ending seemed a little like a quick way out and kind of left me wanting something else….or feeling like I missed something. Kind of disappointing for me.

Everything was perfect. And then her fiancé disappeared…
This was the perfect thriller to sit in the sun and read. I couldn’t put it down, right from the off you are left with the question ‘where’s he gone?’ You can’t help but want to read more and more to find everything out.

I thought a few times that maybe I’d guessed the twist, but I wasn’t 100% right.
Overall, faster pasted than I expect, good characters & enjoyable storyline.

I did think that the tail end of the read dragged a little, I personally felt as thought It repeated itself a lot, but I understand why (not spoilers here though!) as it needed to for the characters outcomes.

"The Vow" by Debbie Howells is an exquisitely crafted masterpiece that will leave you breathless and emotionally shattered. With her exceptional storytelling prowess, Howells takes readers on a suspenseful journey through the depths of human emotions and the harrowing consequences of secrets and betrayal.

From the very first page, the atmosphere is thick with tension, like a storm gathering on the horizon. Howells weaves a web of intrigue, slowly unraveling the truth behind a seemingly idyllic relationship when the groom goes missing two weeks before the wedding. The characters are flawlessly drawn, their vulnerabilities and complexities leaping off the pages, making it impossible not to be completely invested in their fates.

The pacing of the narrative is nothing short of genius. Howells expertly balances moments of quiet introspection with heart-pounding twists that will leave you gasping for air. Each revelation is like a dagger to the heart, forcing you to confront the fragile nature of trust and the devastating power of love gone awry.

The prose itself is a work of art. Howells' vivid descriptions create a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for the unfolding drama, immersing the reader in a world that is at once alluring and treacherous. Her ability to capture the nuances of human emotions is unparalleled, evoking a range of feelings from empathy to despair with every turn of the page.

"The Vow" is not simply a thriller; it is an exploration of the intricacies of human relationships and the lengths we are willing to go for love. It delves into the dark recesses of the human psyche, unearthing buried secrets and challenging our notions of right and wrong with the perfect about of herbalism. Prepare to have your heart wrenched, your mind twisted, and your soul forever marked by this mesmerizing tale.

In conclusion, "The Vow" is an absolute tour de force that will leave you emotionally shattered and longing for more. Debbie Howells has cemented herself as a master storyteller, and this gripping novel is a testament to her talent. Do not miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in this haunting and unforgettable literary experience.

There was a lot of interest when this book was released and I expected great things.

Bess is about to be married to a man she claims to live - but doesn't really know. She is a single parent to Jess away at uni- but she never noticed how her fiance has overriden her daughter's feelings and sidelined her.
We learn this when Matt, the fiance is missing. This is just the start of mind games and cul-de-sacs.
This book is very slow and repetitive and I really stopped caring about who did what I just wanted to get to the end

This was such a fun, atmospheric mystery/thriller! There were so many twists and turns. I really didn’t know who to believe, there were a few unreliable characters. I would definitely read from this author again.

I enjoyed this story. It reminded me of Sandie Jones' stories a lot. Full of twists that keeps the reader interested. Recommend for a thriller reader looking for something quick you read and enjoy!

*Thank you Avon UK for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

I could not put this book down. I was hooked from the start. There is so much suspense throughout the book. It is a must read thriller.