What can I say about this book without giving too much away? This is the first book I have read from this author and was drawn in. The book starts with Amy and mostly told from her perspective. Amy is a divorcee with a troubled past. Her ex was abusive and she has a deep secret. Amy meets Matt at a party and they start a relationship and are planning to get married. Not long before the wedding Matt goes missing. While the police are investigating the disappearance another woman also files a report that her boyfriend is missing. At this point we learn Matt was having an affair. This is where the book gets really good, how did Amy not suspect her fiancé of having an affair, why was he still planning on marrying her, or was he really planning on leaving her? Where is Matt, is he alive? dead? Who is this other woman and what does she know about Matt? What happened in Amy's past? How does her past tie into her present life? All the twists come together in a neat little package. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Very well written book.

The Vow starts off two weeks before a wedding is to happen, and stays interesting all the way along

A story about a double life, missing people and just so much more!

I am giving this book 3.5 Stars

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Debbie Howells and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of The Vow, in exchange for my review


#TakeTheVow #NetGalley

The story started out strong but quickly turned boring. Nothing much happened and although it was trying to build atmosphere and suspense it didn't quite achieve it. I figured out fairly quickly where the story was heading and the main character was also not likable, which in itself isn't always an issue but on this occasion missed the mark.
A lot in the book didn't make any sense for example why would the police allow the daughter to investigate and ask her to dig deeper? Absolutely would not happen in real life. The ending was also somewhat lacklustre as it didn't answer all the questions

This is one of the best books I've read in a long while and kept me guessing until the very end. I just couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in a single day as I just had to find out what was going to happen. I highly recommend it and will look forward to reading more of Debbie's books in the future.

Not a bad book l I got into the characters and the story based on a herbalist was different. I thought I’d suspected the ending but I didn’t . I’ll be interested to read more from this author in the future

Here are all the elements of a stock psychological thriller: an eerie rural setting, a shady past, an unreliable narrator. And the premise is intriguing: a jilted woman, weeks before her wedding day – her fiancé missing, her a prime suspect.

There is a clever push-pull as we switch to different points of view, teasing out the answer to just how much can we trust our protagonist? Amy has suffered with depression before, after her first marriage fell apart. Her therapist vouches for her unstable state of mind. We see her smashing plates in the kitchen.

Matt, her fiancé, was unable cope with her mood swings, the gaps in her memory, her refusal to sell her beloved cottage.

But Amy maintains theirs is the perfect relationship, and that he’s the man of her dreams.

What is a clue and what is a red herring? Our interest is sustained as Debbie Howells shifts perspectives and makes us question what we can believe. Like Amy, we start looking at everyone as a potential suspect. Howells also writes a dual-time narrative, with flashbacks to 1996 and a tragic incident that occurred in childhood. It doesn’t take long to connect this event to present-day circumstances.

The main reason that this thriller fails to really capture the imagination is that the twist fell somewhat flat, although there was some satisfaction in things being neatly tied up with a bow. The second was the lack of a sustained atmosphere, although all the elements were there to create one; particularly the cottage in the countryside with the herbalist’s garden, the implicit power of nature to heal and to destroy.

This was a fast-paced read, and a strength of the novel was its ability to keep the reader in the dark and its exploration of gaslighting, raising awareness of insidious forms of emotional abuse and manipulation.

‘Nothing too aggressive to start with, just a subtle undermining, chipping away at your reality, until before long, you’re so under their spell, you believe everything they tell you, to the point you question your own sanity…’

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy from the publisher. The Vow will be published by Avon UK in October 2020.

Masterfully written story about how your past and your future can be derailed in your present. When your fiancé doesn’t return home after a business meeting less than 2 weeks before your wedding everything is turned upside down. Any reported him missing only to discover another woman reported a man matching his discerption missing as well. Can they be the same person? What does that mean? Was her fiancé cheating on her this close to the wedding? What really happened to him?
It was interesting and easy to read. Thank you to Netgalley for complimentary copy. Thoughts and opinions my own.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was a bit predictable and formulaic but it’s very engaging and the characters are like able and fun enough that it keeps you sucked in and turning pages through the plot. Solid 3.

This is not the type of book I would usually read. I did enjoy the storyline but it was not gripping and I felt like I just ploughed my way through to the end. I hate to be harsh but for me it was a three star.

Everyone dreams of their wedding day, your dress, cake, flowers, decorations, every detail planned and catered for. Of course not forgetting the groom the man you are deeply in love with, share all of your hopes and dreams with, the man you plan to spend a lifetime with.

Imagine that man not turning up on your long awaited wedding day.

Amy is due to marry Matt in two weeks, everything is going smoothly and they have even created their own vows. One evening Matt says he will be home late as he is having dinner with a client.

Matt doesn't return home, Amy is beside herself with worry- has he been hurt, lost, or even worse killed? It doesn't cross Amy's mind for a second that Matt could be seeing someone else, why would it? They're deeply in love. That is until another woman comes forward and claims her boyfriend also called Matt is missing.

Amy spends day and night frantically and desperately trying to find out what has happened to Matt, it might just occur that he has been keeping secrets and is living a double life.

I really enjoyed this book, it was gripping, addictive and extremely hard to put down.

A big thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t have a lot of expectation about this book but OMG! It really is a great book! I love it a lot!

I keep guessing what is happening but I can’t! Everything is so unexpected. The plot twist is definitely commendable. I love how modern kind of mystery and thriller this is. It’s easily relatable! It had multiple POV which gives you a wide range of what is really happening. About 20% till the book is finish it pulls me in to keep reading more. I love it!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon Publishing for approving me of this book! I’ll write a review in my website sooooon...

The Vow by Debbie Howells is a great psychological thriller. It is a convoluted, compelling tale that kept my attention. A bit slow in parts, but still a worthwhile read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for and advanced copy.

Two weeks until she gets married, Amy makes their final plans and looks forward to the special day. But things start to go wrong when a stranger warns her she is in danger. Then her husband-to-be Matt doesn't come home that night, and it soon becomes clear that he is missing and that she will be forced to cancel the wedding. Amy is in contact with the police and is keen to find out what happened to Matt. Then things get even worse when the police advise her that another woman has also reported Matt missing, and claims that they are in a relationship and that he was going to leave Amy and move in with her. Amy doesn't believe it until she sees evidence and realises he has been living a double life. But it seems that this might not be the only secret, and the police and even Amy's daughter Jess do their best to get to the bottom of the story... Who is telling the truth?

This was the first book by Debbie Howells I've read and I absolutely loved it. The style of writing, exciting and intriguing plot, and the interesting characters all had me hooked. The story was full of twists and turns and I liked how it all came together. I really recommend this book and can't wait to read other books by Debbie.

Thanks so much to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for my honest feedback.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
I have to say the author did a great job for her first novel. The characters were engaging, and I found myself liking the two main characters, then hating them. I liked how the police unraveled things as well. There was probably only one thing that bothered me a little, which was the young daughter helping the police. One of the police officers seemed to be on Amy's side, and then not. Yet she listened and seemed to value what Jess, Amy's young daughter would say into the investigation. It just seemed a bit far fetched to me at times.
Other then that the conclusion of the book was good, the ending could've been held out a bit longer for a better surprise, but other then that a great mystery!

Matt and Amy are two weeks away from their wedding when Matt completely vanishes. Amy reports his disappearance to the police, only to find out he has also been reported missing by another woman...his girlfriend, Fiona.

This story was just okay for me. The premise sounded amazing and really intriguing. It kept my attention and the writing style made for a really quick read. However, I found the storyline pretty predictable. From about 25% in, I had a pretty good idea on how everything was all connected. I found it hard to sympathize with the main character because she honestly seemed pretty clueless about everything. Her daughter had more intuition than she did on what was going on and pretty much had to connect the dots for the police (who seemed unconcerned about finding out what was really going on).

Overall, I’d definitely give this author a try again because I really liked the idea behind this book and the writing style.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Just finished The Vow. It kept me interested though I felt the author made the police a little too interested in the meaning of herbs and plants during their interrogation of Amy.
I had a difficult time keeping up with who was saying what because the format of the book either wasn’t done correctly or the book downloaded incorrectly. I will assume it was the latter.
It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.

Two weeks before their wedding Amy comes home from work and her fiancé Matt, never comes home. Stricken with emotion Amy calls the police. It seems like their idyllic relationship is not as it seems when another woman comes forward to say her partner, Matt, is also missing.
This was a twisty tale that had me thinking who could be involved from Amy’s social circle.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this. It got deep into your psyche and you wondered if justice would prevail. Strong characters with twists and turns kept you intrigued throughout.

This book was a fun read! I figured out the twist about half way but I still enjoyed reading the twists and turns and watching the characters figure it out themselves. Overall, a light, fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the preview of this book. It was a really great read . Amy is due to get married but two weeks before their big day her fiancee goes AWOL. From then Amy's life takes a dramatic turn; & the book will take you on many twists & turns. It was really good & was hard to work out who to trust. I look forward to more from this author