The story started well, a woman's fiance goes missing shortly before their wedding. Then the novel got tedious and unbelievable. A quick read but not for me.

This book started off decent and I was genuinely really curious of where it was going to go. I thought the storyline was going quite well and I was definitely left guessing. I thought if worked out the twist but I’d turned out it was something I hadn’t thought of at all.
I enjoyed how you weren’t sure whether to trust the narrator or not. I really enjoyed reading Jess’s chapters, she brought a bit of life and clarity to the story throughout.
Ultimately I thought the story started to become a little too far fetched towards the end and I was lacking interest a bit.

The title of the book says it all actually. “The vow”, when I first saw the title , I kind of knew the plot will be all about lies. That’s what happens with vows and promises isn’t it? So, Amy and Matt were having a so called perfectly “balanced” relationship and ready to get married. Then one day Matt goes missing and as the story goes lies after lies unfold each other! Though I am still confused how Amy don’t see this coming and be so stupid despite of the fact that Matt was always a overly controlling guy and the relationship was apparently toxic and they were getting married! Unbelievable!! The characters of the book have their own story , truth or lie? That is the question!
I won’t give this book five star but still it was a nice read.

Not the best from my favourite authoress, unfortunately. The premise is very exciting and the first chapters are deliciously twisty, but then the plot enters the area of unbelievability. The connection with the darkness of the past is lacking, but what is lacking even more is the police's work here. The only one behaving with some sense is the main heroine Amy's daughter Jess, smart as young Sherlock, who singlehandedly delivers all the sleuthing.
But I have enjoyed all the mentions of herbalism. And ewhile I find the plot being weak, I am still impressed with Ms Howells's writing skills and the human goodness she can infuse her stories with. And I seriously like Jess - there could (and should!) be the series based on her character!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers
A story full of intrigue, secrets and suspense. Exactly what is needed for a good thriller. I’ve not read any books by this author before but will keep an eye out for her as I really enjoyed this book.

Well written and fast paced. I enjoyed this book and would recommend.
Thank you Netgalley and Avon books for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion.

I felt strangely let down by this one. I was really keen on the premise, but the execution was just blah. It was such a convoluted story that it was unbelievable on all fronts. Also, the character's reactions to situations didn't seem natural at all. Like when they should have been outraged, they were calm, and so on.

Just a miss for me.

Really excellent book. Enjoyed it very much. Fabulous plot and great characters. Absolutely loved it.

A good thriller with a tense plot line and well developed characters.

Featured the "character finds evidence the police didn't find" trope which is always annoying but other than that I had a good time reading this!

I love the cover of this novel and the inside. "The Vow" is an suspenseful novel by Debbie Howells. A page turner for sure.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books.
Well that wasn't quite as expected and in a very good way. Twists, turns, well written and great characters.
More by Debbie please.

One of the best books I have read this year so far. It has a great plot, believable characters, some wicked minds that are just evil, great descriptions of the countryside, strong friendships and bonds between friends and mother/daughter. There´s a terrible secret in Amy´s past and that secret will unravel a storm in her present and not enable her dreams to come true in the future. It´s like running against time to find who the real culprits are, as much as in the past as in the present time.
Absorbing, I couldn´t put the book down until I reached the end. Just loved reading it!

A quick fast paced start to this book which did lose momentum as the story went on but overall was still a great read..

Even though this was predictable at times it was an overall enjoyable read.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

DNF - did not finish. I could not connect with the writing style/plot so I decided to not pick this one up. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the early copy!

I’m surprised by the mixed reviews for this book, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Amy is happily planning her marriage to Matt, which is only weeks away. Everything is perfect, or so she thought.
Matt doesn’t come home one day and Amy is convinced something awful has happened to him. There is no trace of him, he hasn’t turned up to work and none of his friends have seen him.
She finally contacts the police only to be told that another woman has also reported her partner missing, and it seems to be the same man.
I thought this was really entertaining; unusual in that we have a good idea of what has happened half way through the book, but I don’t think this spoilt it.
There are some good twists in the book, but it doesn’t have the jaw dropping revelation that many other books of this type have.
I would definitely read more by this author

This boom wasn't for me. I found it boring and really unbelievable in bits. I didn't connect with the characters and found they got on my nerves. I'm sorry to say i won't be reading another.

Thoroughly enjoyed this captivating book. The story is told from three perspectives; Amy, Fiona and Jess in the present day, with a few snippets from an unknown person going back to 1996, It's a tale of obsession, secrets, love and lies. It keeps you gripped as the story unfolds. You are introduced to the story and characters bit by bit so that you are not sure who has done what until very near the end. It covers a difficult topic, which is sensitively but well handled leaving the reader with a sense of how it might feel to be manipulated as the main characters have been. Thank you netgalley.

Two weeks before her wedding Amy’s fiancé Matt disappears and no one knows where he is. Amy makes a missing persons report to the police and as their relationship appears perfect the only explanation is that something nefarious has happened to Matt.


Then the police get a call from a woman whose partner is missing. He didn’t live with her, he lived with his fiancé who he was planning to leave to be with her. Photos of the two of them together prove that this woman’s partner is Matt.

What has happened to Matt and who knows more than they are letting on?

================

This book was OK. The only character I liked was the daughter and I found the plot rather predictable and was completely unsurprised by the ending. I did like the herbalist element and how this book demonstrates how easily one person can manipulate and gaslight another while creating the image of perfection even in the eyes of their victim.


I’m aware that there are people who have loved this book, but I have read much better books than this in the mystery/thriller genre.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this more but found that it just didn't give me the wow factor I was hoping for. Starting the book it moves along at a good pace and Amy planning her wedding to Matt and then e disappears 2 weeks before the wedding. Amy then finds out about Fiona who for her is the mistress but neither women know of each other until they both find Matt has vanished. Both women are keeping secrets, Matt is missing, and there are many mysterious unknowns but then the book falls off for me as it unfolds. I just didn't connect with it like I usually do and get into the story, some things were repetitive, and other things were suspenseful so it was a 50/50 for me. Thank you Netgalley for letting me have the chance to read it and review with my honest opinions.