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The Vow
Everything was perfect. And then her fiance disappeared…
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. 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.
The wedding day never happened. But the funeral might.
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. 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.
The wedding day never happened. But the funeral might.
Audiobook
First published October 15, 2020
415 people are currently reading
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About the author
Debbie Howells
33 books743 followersDebbie self-published three women's fiction novels before writing The Bones of You, her first psychological thriller. It was a Sunday Times bestseller and selected for the Richard and Judy book club.
Since, she was written The Beauty of the End, The Death of Her, Her Sister's Lie, the e-book bestseller The Vow, and her latest, The Secret.
Her women's fiction novel, The Life You Left Behind will be published on 23rd February.
Follow her on Facebook at Debbie Howells writer and on Instagram @_debbiehowells.
Since, she was written The Beauty of the End, The Death of Her, Her Sister's Lie, the e-book bestseller The Vow, and her latest, The Secret.
Her women's fiction novel, The Life You Left Behind will be published on 23rd February.
Follow her on Facebook at Debbie Howells writer and on Instagram @_debbiehowells.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 707 reviews
August 16, 2020
This book is quiet unique experience for me! It started fast, captivated my attention! I didn’t want to put it down! I like juicy, scandalous, mysterious double life story.
Image you’ve been ditched before your marriage. The groom disappears into thin air and you found
out some other woman also looks for your fiancée dearest because she insists that the very same man you plan to spend the rest of your life plans to dumb you for her! Shame! But don’t worry! The shameless scumbag is already dead! Okay this seems like mean but at the first parts of the book, I easily empathize with Amy who is about to dump and left by a liar ( It is natural to take her side) till
I move back and forth between her past and learn more about her teenage time. We learned more shocking and deliciously stunningly dirty details about her past including lies, secrets, hurt feelings, resentments, undeniable desire of revenge and deceitful actions.
And of course being introduced to Jess: Amy’s daughter helped us to learn more about her motives behind her actions.
I felt like another 5 starred book is coming up! But in the middle of somewhere something went wrong and I felt like the author lost her interest to her characters or finish this story because it got slower and the story-telling showed flat-line and needed an urgent CPR process! I wish the author should have taken a break, cleared her mind before writing the conclusion. As long as I finished, I took a deep breath and I realized my five starred reading journey turned into something boring, repetitive, annoying 2 to 3 starred book. It had so much potential and likable characters ( including Amy’s daughter Jess) but it didn’t fill my expectations. I truly disappointed.
So I’m rounding up 2.5 stars to 3: interestingly it’s not Switzerland read for me: I didn’t love it or hate it- let’s meet in the middle books! In the beginning I truly loved it but in the middle of somewhere I started to hate it! (surprisingly I also start to unlike Amy, too!) So as an average I gave 3 solid stars. I wish last %30 parts of the books may be rewritten and the repeating parts may be omitted.
I still want to read more books of the author because from the promising start and intriguing plot line, I may sense she is brilliant author but unfortunately this book didn’t work with me!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.
Image you’ve been ditched before your marriage. The groom disappears into thin air and you found
out some other woman also looks for your fiancée dearest because she insists that the very same man you plan to spend the rest of your life plans to dumb you for her! Shame! But don’t worry! The shameless scumbag is already dead! Okay this seems like mean but at the first parts of the book, I easily empathize with Amy who is about to dump and left by a liar ( It is natural to take her side) till
I move back and forth between her past and learn more about her teenage time. We learned more shocking and deliciously stunningly dirty details about her past including lies, secrets, hurt feelings, resentments, undeniable desire of revenge and deceitful actions.
And of course being introduced to Jess: Amy’s daughter helped us to learn more about her motives behind her actions.
I felt like another 5 starred book is coming up! But in the middle of somewhere something went wrong and I felt like the author lost her interest to her characters or finish this story because it got slower and the story-telling showed flat-line and needed an urgent CPR process! I wish the author should have taken a break, cleared her mind before writing the conclusion. As long as I finished, I took a deep breath and I realized my five starred reading journey turned into something boring, repetitive, annoying 2 to 3 starred book. It had so much potential and likable characters ( including Amy’s daughter Jess) but it didn’t fill my expectations. I truly disappointed.
So I’m rounding up 2.5 stars to 3: interestingly it’s not Switzerland read for me: I didn’t love it or hate it- let’s meet in the middle books! In the beginning I truly loved it but in the middle of somewhere I started to hate it! (surprisingly I also start to unlike Amy, too!) So as an average I gave 3 solid stars. I wish last %30 parts of the books may be rewritten and the repeating parts may be omitted.
I still want to read more books of the author because from the promising start and intriguing plot line, I may sense she is brilliant author but unfortunately this book didn’t work with me!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.
April 22, 2020
3+
Amy is making plans to marry Matt, writing vows, working with her wedding planner and so on. Then a number of strange events occurred and Matt disappears. What follows takes us back to Amy’s teenage years in this story of guilt, obsession, deception, betrayal and revenge. It is told in alternating perspectives by Amy, her daughter Jess, Fiona a lawyer and is interspersed with events from 1996.
I really enjoyed the first part of this as is really twisty and has some intriguing revelations. Jess’s point of view is especially illuminating as it reveals much about Matt and I like those sections. Amy is hard to figure out as she seems to have contradictory sides to her nature but that adds to the interest. Amy is a herbalist and this is interesting and the symbolism of the herbs and flowers is fascinating and is to prove to be an important element in the novel. So I would rate the first 50-60% at 4 stars.
However, unfortunately from that point on I feel the story starts to unravel and I had a few eyes to the skies moments. The plot became too incredible and there’s so much repetition especially with events from 1996 which are repeated about three times with little variation. The police questioning of characters did not feel realistic at all. WPC Page’s tone in questioning is frequently ‘sharp’ and there’s a definite overuse of that word. Jess conducts a lot of investigation into Matt and its thanks to her that much is discovered which feels unrealistic as I’m sure police forces are more than capable of conducting research into a persons past and don’t require pointers from Jess! So, with great regret as I like Debbie Howells books it’s an overall three star.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC. The cover is amazing!
Amy is making plans to marry Matt, writing vows, working with her wedding planner and so on. Then a number of strange events occurred and Matt disappears. What follows takes us back to Amy’s teenage years in this story of guilt, obsession, deception, betrayal and revenge. It is told in alternating perspectives by Amy, her daughter Jess, Fiona a lawyer and is interspersed with events from 1996.
I really enjoyed the first part of this as is really twisty and has some intriguing revelations. Jess’s point of view is especially illuminating as it reveals much about Matt and I like those sections. Amy is hard to figure out as she seems to have contradictory sides to her nature but that adds to the interest. Amy is a herbalist and this is interesting and the symbolism of the herbs and flowers is fascinating and is to prove to be an important element in the novel. So I would rate the first 50-60% at 4 stars.
However, unfortunately from that point on I feel the story starts to unravel and I had a few eyes to the skies moments. The plot became too incredible and there’s so much repetition especially with events from 1996 which are repeated about three times with little variation. The police questioning of characters did not feel realistic at all. WPC Page’s tone in questioning is frequently ‘sharp’ and there’s a definite overuse of that word. Jess conducts a lot of investigation into Matt and its thanks to her that much is discovered which feels unrealistic as I’m sure police forces are more than capable of conducting research into a persons past and don’t require pointers from Jess! So, with great regret as I like Debbie Howells books it’s an overall three star.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC. The cover is amazing!
October 15, 2020
The Vow is a must read thriller! I could not put this book down. I was hooked from the first page. There is so much suspense throughout the book. There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book.
Amy's fiance Matt is missing two weeks before their wedding. After reporting him missing, she finds out he has a mistress, Fiona, who also reported him missing. Both women have secrets they aren't telling the cops but what actually happened to Matt?
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for The Vow.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Amy's fiance Matt is missing two weeks before their wedding. After reporting him missing, she finds out he has a mistress, Fiona, who also reported him missing. Both women have secrets they aren't telling the cops but what actually happened to Matt?
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for The Vow.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
October 13, 2020
You didn't know about the alchemist's curse. About the significance that lay, not just in essence but in intent.
Too many inconsistencies and implausibilities made The Vow a not remotely enticing read. I found Amy, the protagonist, to be spineless. And the reason everything happened was just silly. Honestly, nothing about this book came across as realistic...from the police procedural, to the clues, to the character's reactions, to the conclusion.
I don't really have anything else to say.
Available October 15, 2020.
**My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Avon Books for my review copy.
Too many inconsistencies and implausibilities made The Vow a not remotely enticing read. I found Amy, the protagonist, to be spineless. And the reason everything happened was just silly. Honestly, nothing about this book came across as realistic...from the police procedural, to the clues, to the character's reactions, to the conclusion.
I don't really have anything else to say.
Available October 15, 2020.
**My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Avon Books for my review copy.
October 20, 2020
EXCERPT: Lost in my thoughts, at first I don't notice the footsteps behind me.
'Excuse me . . .'
The voice is unfamiliar. I hesitate, unsure if it's directed at me, then as the footsteps come closer, I turn around to find myself staring at a stranger.
'I need to talk to you.' As the woman speaks, I feel myself freeze. She looks older than her voice sounds, her grey hair wispy, her face strangely unlined. But it's the colour of her eyes, a transparent ice-blue, that is hypnotic. For a moment I'm mesmerised then, as a van speeds past, her hand grips my arm, pulling me away from the road. 'I have to talk to you.' There's an unmistakable urgency in her voice.
'Someone's watching you. They know where you go, everything you do.'
As she speaks, my blood runs cold. 'Who are you?'
Without telling me, she goes on. 'You think you're meant to be together.' Each word both softly spoken and crystal clear, her eyes fixed on mine so that I can't look away. 'You think he's the love of your life.' She pauses for a moment. 'He isn't who you think he is.' Then a strange look crosses her face. 'You're in danger.'
ABOUT THE VOW: Everything was perfect. And then her fiance disappeared…
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. 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.
The wedding day never happened. But the funeral might
MY THOUGHTS: Starting with something positive:I love the cover. And the flowers were a brilliant touch.
But the book? Repetitive and contrived. There are a lot of things that I would like to say, but it would create spoilers so I won't.
I prefer the second half of the book, starting from where we get Fiona's narration. I didn't like Amy at all. I didn't enjoy Jess's input in the first half of the book because I think it gave too much away, but she really comes into her own in the second half.
Even then, I found myself skimming large tracts of text. This totally failed to keep my interest. I adored two other novels by this author, The Bones of You, and The Beauty of the End. After them, The Vow is a big disappointment.
Many other readers love this book. Reading is a very personal subjective experience, and not every book is for every reader. So, if you enjoyed the extract, and the plot summary interests you, please do read The Vow by Debbie Howells. I hope that you are one of the many who enjoy this read.
Improbable, implausible, contrived and repetitive (at the risk of repeating myself)
⭐.8
There are two sides to every story. But there's only one truth.
THE AUTHOR: After a number of career changes, Debbie now writes full time, inspired by the peacefulness of the countryside she lives in with her partner Martin, Bean the rescued cat and a rather elderly golden retriever called Bernard.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Vow by Debbie Howells. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Excuse me . . .'
The voice is unfamiliar. I hesitate, unsure if it's directed at me, then as the footsteps come closer, I turn around to find myself staring at a stranger.
'I need to talk to you.' As the woman speaks, I feel myself freeze. She looks older than her voice sounds, her grey hair wispy, her face strangely unlined. But it's the colour of her eyes, a transparent ice-blue, that is hypnotic. For a moment I'm mesmerised then, as a van speeds past, her hand grips my arm, pulling me away from the road. 'I have to talk to you.' There's an unmistakable urgency in her voice.
'Someone's watching you. They know where you go, everything you do.'
As she speaks, my blood runs cold. 'Who are you?'
Without telling me, she goes on. 'You think you're meant to be together.' Each word both softly spoken and crystal clear, her eyes fixed on mine so that I can't look away. 'You think he's the love of your life.' She pauses for a moment. 'He isn't who you think he is.' Then a strange look crosses her face. 'You're in danger.'
ABOUT THE VOW: Everything was perfect. And then her fiance disappeared…
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. 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.
The wedding day never happened. But the funeral might
MY THOUGHTS: Starting with something positive:I love the cover. And the flowers were a brilliant touch.
But the book? Repetitive and contrived. There are a lot of things that I would like to say, but it would create spoilers so I won't.
I prefer the second half of the book, starting from where we get Fiona's narration. I didn't like Amy at all. I didn't enjoy Jess's input in the first half of the book because I think it gave too much away, but she really comes into her own in the second half.
Even then, I found myself skimming large tracts of text. This totally failed to keep my interest. I adored two other novels by this author, The Bones of You, and The Beauty of the End. After them, The Vow is a big disappointment.
Many other readers love this book. Reading is a very personal subjective experience, and not every book is for every reader. So, if you enjoyed the extract, and the plot summary interests you, please do read The Vow by Debbie Howells. I hope that you are one of the many who enjoy this read.
Improbable, implausible, contrived and repetitive (at the risk of repeating myself)
⭐.8
There are two sides to every story. But there's only one truth.
THE AUTHOR: After a number of career changes, Debbie now writes full time, inspired by the peacefulness of the countryside she lives in with her partner Martin, Bean the rescued cat and a rather elderly golden retriever called Bernard.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Vow by Debbie Howells. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 20, 2021
The Vow by Debbie Howells is a psychological thriller. The story in The Vow is one that does change the point of view along the way between some of the characters with the main focus being on the lead, Amy. This one was also originally published in October of 2020 but now the paperback has been released.
Amy and her fiance are getting closer to their wedding date and have plans to go over more of the planning but as Amy is out doing errands a strange woman approaches her and warns her she’s in danger. Amy shakes it off and goes about her business thinking the woman doesn’t know her.
As Amy is waiting for Matt to arrive to go over their wedding plans he calls to tell her he has a client to deal with first and will be late. The next morning however Amy sees Matt never arrived home so she begins to frantically check on where he might be. Before long the police are involved and Matt is declared a missing person but when a second woman also reports him missing Amy doesn’t believe her fiance could have secrets from her.
Debbie Howells is an author that once I read my first book by her I have immediately grabbed any more I can get my hands on and always enjoy the story to some degree. The Vow for me was not her strongest effort I’ve read thus far with my final rating only being three and a half stars. Honestly, I think the biggest thing for me was this one seemed to go on too long and could have kept a better pace had it been a tad shorter as it seemed to get a bit repetitive. Otherwise though I still like this one even if not as much as others and will still continue to come back to this author again.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Amy and her fiance are getting closer to their wedding date and have plans to go over more of the planning but as Amy is out doing errands a strange woman approaches her and warns her she’s in danger. Amy shakes it off and goes about her business thinking the woman doesn’t know her.
As Amy is waiting for Matt to arrive to go over their wedding plans he calls to tell her he has a client to deal with first and will be late. The next morning however Amy sees Matt never arrived home so she begins to frantically check on where he might be. Before long the police are involved and Matt is declared a missing person but when a second woman also reports him missing Amy doesn’t believe her fiance could have secrets from her.
Debbie Howells is an author that once I read my first book by her I have immediately grabbed any more I can get my hands on and always enjoy the story to some degree. The Vow for me was not her strongest effort I’ve read thus far with my final rating only being three and a half stars. Honestly, I think the biggest thing for me was this one seemed to go on too long and could have kept a better pace had it been a tad shorter as it seemed to get a bit repetitive. Otherwise though I still like this one even if not as much as others and will still continue to come back to this author again.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 11, 2020
Debbie Howells is an author whose books I always enjoy... hello Her Sisters Lie 🙌. The Vow was a twisty and surprising psychological thriller that kept me up past my bedtime. The ending was very cleverly done, really didn’t see it coming.
Matt and Amy are the perfect couple and are about to get married. But 2 weeks before the wedding, Matt disappears without a trace. In her search to find him she discovers that he was living a double life, with another woman. He was not that man she thought he was. Amy has her own secrets as well. Wait til you find out about her past!
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Matt and Amy are the perfect couple and are about to get married. But 2 weeks before the wedding, Matt disappears without a trace. In her search to find him she discovers that he was living a double life, with another woman. He was not that man she thought he was. Amy has her own secrets as well. Wait til you find out about her past!
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
March 29, 2020
Amy and Matt are getting married in two weeks, everything seems perfect and they are writing their own vows. Matt says he is taking a client out for dinner and will be back late - but he doesn’t return!!
Amy had been warned by a stranger that “she is in danger” but now wonders if the message is connected with Matt’s disappearance.
When the police start to investigate, another woman, Fiona comes forward as her boyfriend Matt has disappeared. Was Matt living a double life?
The story is told from Amy, Fiona and Jess’s (Amy’s daughter) point of view.
I loved everything about this book, its eye catching cover caught my eye, but the story soon had me totally hooked with its suspense and twists along the way.
This is much more than a missing partner story, we have snippets that Matt and Amy’s relationship was not all it initially seems and that they are both hiding secrets from their pasts, that leads to an explosive ending.
I highly recommend this book!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Amy had been warned by a stranger that “she is in danger” but now wonders if the message is connected with Matt’s disappearance.
When the police start to investigate, another woman, Fiona comes forward as her boyfriend Matt has disappeared. Was Matt living a double life?
The story is told from Amy, Fiona and Jess’s (Amy’s daughter) point of view.
I loved everything about this book, its eye catching cover caught my eye, but the story soon had me totally hooked with its suspense and twists along the way.
This is much more than a missing partner story, we have snippets that Matt and Amy’s relationship was not all it initially seems and that they are both hiding secrets from their pasts, that leads to an explosive ending.
I highly recommend this book!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
February 12, 2021
Amy is blissfully happy. Or is she? Amy is due to marry the man of her dreams in a fortnight's time. Or is she? Amy is the only woman in Matt's life. Or is she? Amy is the grieving individual who initiates a missing person's investigation. Or is she?
I can always count on Debbie Howells to pen an engrossing thriller and this one did not disappoint. I really gelled with the sinister writing style, in which the protagonist narrated her horrific experiences and hinted, on many occasions, that worse was to come. She relayed her story with the benefit of hindsight and it ensured the reader felt as though they were forever playing catch-up, to reach her place of enhanced understanding.
I was intrigued from page one, but became doubly so after the central twist occurred, which was very reminiscent of Gone Girl for me. No factors from the two books remained the same, apart from how they equally promoted a misdirection of focus and theory, albeit in two very different ways. Both authors cleverly constructed a chilling premise, penned it in a style guaranteed to build suspense, and created a format designed to promote a slow but grand reveal.
I can always count on Debbie Howells to pen an engrossing thriller and this one did not disappoint. I really gelled with the sinister writing style, in which the protagonist narrated her horrific experiences and hinted, on many occasions, that worse was to come. She relayed her story with the benefit of hindsight and it ensured the reader felt as though they were forever playing catch-up, to reach her place of enhanced understanding.
I was intrigued from page one, but became doubly so after the central twist occurred, which was very reminiscent of Gone Girl for me. No factors from the two books remained the same, apart from how they equally promoted a misdirection of focus and theory, albeit in two very different ways. Both authors cleverly constructed a chilling premise, penned it in a style guaranteed to build suspense, and created a format designed to promote a slow but grand reveal.
October 12, 2020
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops and tells Amy that she is in danger. That night her fiance, Matt doesn't come home. Amy phones the police and reports Matt missing. She's forced to call off her wedding. Then, another man is reported missing by someone called Fiona. The man matches Matt's description. Amy doesn't believe that Matt and Fiona could be lovers but photographs prove this to be true. Matt had been leading a double life.
This story is told from Amy, Fiona and Jess's point of views. There is also some snippets told from another person from 1996. A story of secrets and lies. I did not like Matt or Fiona. Matt was controlling, I don't know why any woman liked him. Imwas pulled in quickly to this story needing to know what was going on. This is a well written and twist filled story. I read this book in one sitting.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #DebbieHowells for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told from Amy, Fiona and Jess's point of views. There is also some snippets told from another person from 1996. A story of secrets and lies. I did not like Matt or Fiona. Matt was controlling, I don't know why any woman liked him. Imwas pulled in quickly to this story needing to know what was going on. This is a well written and twist filled story. I read this book in one sitting.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #DebbieHowells for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2020
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
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
November 13, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Amy gets a strange phone call from Matt (her fiance) and when she later goes into town, gets a strange warning from a woman warning her he isn't who he seems and she's in danger. Matt then goes missing and in a surprise turn of events, Amy finds out he has another girlfriend who has also reported him missing.
Between these two different womens accounts a picture begins to form, and Amys daughter Jess manages to fill in some of the cracks in the story.
The Vow started out as a gripping thriller but as the book got to about half way through I started to lose interest in the story but kept on reading to the end.
I felt the story went flat at about 45% and unfortunately (for me anyway), life didn't get revived into it which I was hoping would happen.
The storyline was fantastic and cleverly plotted with a great twist at the end which could have been made much, much better.
Amy gets a strange phone call from Matt (her fiance) and when she later goes into town, gets a strange warning from a woman warning her he isn't who he seems and she's in danger. Matt then goes missing and in a surprise turn of events, Amy finds out he has another girlfriend who has also reported him missing.
Between these two different womens accounts a picture begins to form, and Amys daughter Jess manages to fill in some of the cracks in the story.
The Vow started out as a gripping thriller but as the book got to about half way through I started to lose interest in the story but kept on reading to the end.
I felt the story went flat at about 45% and unfortunately (for me anyway), life didn't get revived into it which I was hoping would happen.
The storyline was fantastic and cleverly plotted with a great twist at the end which could have been made much, much better.
September 2, 2022
A highly entertaining mystery thriller that certainly keeps you guessing, though not quite exciting enough to be one that I'd confidently would recommend.
The whole set up of Amy's fiance Matt not arriving home the same evening that a stranger had warned her not to trust him was enticing, the fact that it was two weeks prior to the couples wedding certainly made for a great hook.
This is the second novel that I've read from this author and have found both to be highly enjoyable.
As the mystery surrounding Matt's disappearance deepers, more layers of the plot start to be revealed.
I do agree with other reviews about the rerepetition, though an ideal book to enjoy for a couple of hours each evening.
The whole set up of Amy's fiance Matt not arriving home the same evening that a stranger had warned her not to trust him was enticing, the fact that it was two weeks prior to the couples wedding certainly made for a great hook.
This is the second novel that I've read from this author and have found both to be highly enjoyable.
As the mystery surrounding Matt's disappearance deepers, more layers of the plot start to be revealed.
I do agree with other reviews about the rerepetition, though an ideal book to enjoy for a couple of hours each evening.
May 15, 2020
Amy’s fiancé Matt disappears a few weeks before their wedding.
She calls the police and they inform her that he has been lying to her and leading a double life. She can’t believe that this is true and sets out to find the truth.
A story about secrets and lies with quite a few twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
She calls the police and they inform her that he has been lying to her and leading a double life. She can’t believe that this is true and sets out to find the truth.
A story about secrets and lies with quite a few twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2020
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. Then that night, Matt, her fiance, doesn’t come home. Another woman ,Fiona, also reports a man missing and it’s the same man, Matt had been living a double life.
As the police dig deeper, two conflicting, yet equally plausible stories emerge from two women who allegedly have never met. Who is lying and where has Matt disappeared ?
What initially attracted me to this book was its cover and once I read the synopsis I felt that it would be full of twist and decided to give it a try!!
This story is told from the perspectives of Amy, Fiona, Jess (Amy's daughter), and an unknown narrator from 1996. It emphasizes the importance of trust and honesty in a relationship, because sometimes one is so absorbed in the person they love that they miss seeing the danger signals that are right in front of them.
The way the story developed right from the first page was quite good and the characters were quite suspenseful although the final twist was not as surprising as it should have been since quite a few hints were given throughout the story.
But it still is a gripping mystery and an enjoyable read for mystery lovers.
Thank You to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC!!
As the police dig deeper, two conflicting, yet equally plausible stories emerge from two women who allegedly have never met. Who is lying and where has Matt disappeared ?
What initially attracted me to this book was its cover and once I read the synopsis I felt that it would be full of twist and decided to give it a try!!
This story is told from the perspectives of Amy, Fiona, Jess (Amy's daughter), and an unknown narrator from 1996. It emphasizes the importance of trust and honesty in a relationship, because sometimes one is so absorbed in the person they love that they miss seeing the danger signals that are right in front of them.
The way the story developed right from the first page was quite good and the characters were quite suspenseful although the final twist was not as surprising as it should have been since quite a few hints were given throughout the story.
But it still is a gripping mystery and an enjoyable read for mystery lovers.
Thank You to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC!!
April 1, 2020
Many thanks to Netgalley and Publishers Avon UK for this ARC for my opinion and review.
This is a fabulous read of intrigue and suspense. Was there or wasn't there a murder?
The reader is taken into the everyday lives of Amy and Jess, mother and daughter. Amy is divorced and through this experience, although there is no description of the divorce, the reader will see that it has left her uncertain of herself and insecure. Had the author included the former husband and divorce details the read would have become bogged down, by not doing so the read concentrates on the main characters and moves quickly. Amy has followed on from her grandmother's vocation and is a practicing herbalist which she has been able to build up into a rewarding business.
There is excitement in the household with the pending marriage between Amy and the fabulous Matt who has moved into the home already. Everything appears to be on track even with a few nerves and supposed anomalies on Amy's behalf. That is, until the day she receives a message from Matt that he will be late home as he has an appointment with a client. When he fails to return home Amy, naturally worried, phones his work only to discover that there was no such appointment.
From here on the book is hard to put down with the intrigue and suspense that follows.
Amy's childhood was traumatised with the death of her sister and in order to cope with this and events surrounding the death and events that followed, Amy has blocked them all out and by reinventing herself has been able to move on with her life. However with the disappearance of Matt, her past begins to unravel, the mystery of the ownership of their home, the stranger that warns her, the woman from her past, reaching the point where she is taken into custody by the Police.
This is a fabulous read of intrigue and suspense. Was there or wasn't there a murder?
The reader is taken into the everyday lives of Amy and Jess, mother and daughter. Amy is divorced and through this experience, although there is no description of the divorce, the reader will see that it has left her uncertain of herself and insecure. Had the author included the former husband and divorce details the read would have become bogged down, by not doing so the read concentrates on the main characters and moves quickly. Amy has followed on from her grandmother's vocation and is a practicing herbalist which she has been able to build up into a rewarding business.
There is excitement in the household with the pending marriage between Amy and the fabulous Matt who has moved into the home already. Everything appears to be on track even with a few nerves and supposed anomalies on Amy's behalf. That is, until the day she receives a message from Matt that he will be late home as he has an appointment with a client. When he fails to return home Amy, naturally worried, phones his work only to discover that there was no such appointment.
From here on the book is hard to put down with the intrigue and suspense that follows.
Amy's childhood was traumatised with the death of her sister and in order to cope with this and events surrounding the death and events that followed, Amy has blocked them all out and by reinventing herself has been able to move on with her life. However with the disappearance of Matt, her past begins to unravel, the mystery of the ownership of their home, the stranger that warns her, the woman from her past, reaching the point where she is taken into custody by the Police.
July 3, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
WOW this was a mind-blowing quick rollercoaster of a book!!
The first 2/3 was pretty simple yet very intriguing…I really wasn’t sure who was the bad guy! All just seemed a typical disappearance mystery novel but noooo it was not. Within a few pages it suddenly got WAY more interesting and detailed….everything was being unraveled and there was no more hiding away…Gosh it’s so hard to write this review without giving too much away but if you like a quick magical mystery this is a winner!!
The only thing I didn’t particularly like was the characters but in this instance it didn’t really matter as I don’t think it was the writer’s intention to make them likeable characters. And in the end I was almost warming to them, particularly Jess the daughter.
Furthermore, Debbie is a new author for me - I love discovering new authors that have an array of books waiting for you.
WOW this was a mind-blowing quick rollercoaster of a book!!
The first 2/3 was pretty simple yet very intriguing…I really wasn’t sure who was the bad guy! All just seemed a typical disappearance mystery novel but noooo it was not. Within a few pages it suddenly got WAY more interesting and detailed….everything was being unraveled and there was no more hiding away…Gosh it’s so hard to write this review without giving too much away but if you like a quick magical mystery this is a winner!!
The only thing I didn’t particularly like was the characters but in this instance it didn’t really matter as I don’t think it was the writer’s intention to make them likeable characters. And in the end I was almost warming to them, particularly Jess the daughter.
Furthermore, Debbie is a new author for me - I love discovering new authors that have an array of books waiting for you.
April 9, 2020
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...
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...
October 15, 2020
A striking cover!
Amy is due to marry Matt in 2 weeks, there is much excitement but then after a rushed phone call saying Matt will be late home that night he disappears, seemingly off the face of the world
Amy is devastated, Jess, her daughter, less so and as the Police investigation starts ( and continues ) we find out not everything was as perfect as Amy led everyone to believe and secrets, lies and obsessions come to the fore as the reader, slowly at times, is led through this domestic noir read
There is a fair ending and I have to say nothing wrong with the book or the plot and it was quite enjoyable but it never really raised its game from the opening gambit, I think some readers will find Amy feckless in her excuses re Matts obvious bullying and there is a lot of mention of flowers and herbs throughout ( author was a florist so makes sense ) and it is mostly relevant but for me not that riveting but that all said it is a passable psychological thriller, no massive shocks here but I guess they are not always needed
3 Stars
6/10
Amy is due to marry Matt in 2 weeks, there is much excitement but then after a rushed phone call saying Matt will be late home that night he disappears, seemingly off the face of the world
Amy is devastated, Jess, her daughter, less so and as the Police investigation starts ( and continues ) we find out not everything was as perfect as Amy led everyone to believe and secrets, lies and obsessions come to the fore as the reader, slowly at times, is led through this domestic noir read
There is a fair ending and I have to say nothing wrong with the book or the plot and it was quite enjoyable but it never really raised its game from the opening gambit, I think some readers will find Amy feckless in her excuses re Matts obvious bullying and there is a lot of mention of flowers and herbs throughout ( author was a florist so makes sense ) and it is mostly relevant but for me not that riveting but that all said it is a passable psychological thriller, no massive shocks here but I guess they are not always needed
3 Stars
6/10
September 25, 2020
This one came on strong at the start, with a frantic Amy trying to locate her fiance Matt after he disappeared a couple of weeks before their wedding. Not long thereafter, a woman named Fiona reports her lover's disappearance. He was, she claims, about to ditch his fiance and move in with her. As I expected when the second woman turned up, evidence - including photos - prove that the guy reported missing by both is one and the same.
Also about the same time, I got a sense of deja vu; not all that long ago, I recalled reading a different book with a plot about two women claiming the other was lying about "her" man. Please God, I said to myself, don't let this one end the same way. Thankfully, it didn't, but I know my enjoyment of this book was dimmed a bit because my mind couldn't help constantly making comparisons.
At any rate, each woman claims not to know the other one, and both insist Matt was a loyal, loving partner who would never dream of leaving them in the lurch. But clearly, at least one of them is very wrong. As Amy learns what her daughter and friends really thought of Matt, the chapters shift between the perspectives of the two women and readers learn secrets from their past lives that may be coming back to haunt them. The rest of the book follows their thoughts and actions as well as the police investigation that culminates in a sort of surprise ending (one which, I'm sure, would have turned out differently - and frankly, more to my liking - had the story taken place under the auspices of the U.S. legal system). I also noticed a bit too much repetition, especially as the various characters fill each other in on what's happening.
That said, it's an intriguing, fast-paced story that kept me swiping the pages of my Kindle right to the end - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
Also about the same time, I got a sense of deja vu; not all that long ago, I recalled reading a different book with a plot about two women claiming the other was lying about "her" man. Please God, I said to myself, don't let this one end the same way. Thankfully, it didn't, but I know my enjoyment of this book was dimmed a bit because my mind couldn't help constantly making comparisons.
At any rate, each woman claims not to know the other one, and both insist Matt was a loyal, loving partner who would never dream of leaving them in the lurch. But clearly, at least one of them is very wrong. As Amy learns what her daughter and friends really thought of Matt, the chapters shift between the perspectives of the two women and readers learn secrets from their past lives that may be coming back to haunt them. The rest of the book follows their thoughts and actions as well as the police investigation that culminates in a sort of surprise ending (one which, I'm sure, would have turned out differently - and frankly, more to my liking - had the story taken place under the auspices of the U.S. legal system). I also noticed a bit too much repetition, especially as the various characters fill each other in on what's happening.
That said, it's an intriguing, fast-paced story that kept me swiping the pages of my Kindle right to the end - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
February 3, 2021
Very interesting plot, indeed. First you believe she is innocent and framed. Then you don’t. Then you don’t know who to believe! And I definitely didn’t see the twist coming. Truthfully, reading the blurb, I wouldn’t be interested to read the book. It has a cliche vibe to it. I changed my mind when I read a reader’s review on The Vow and that convinced me to give it a try. Its good to be surprised!
October 12, 2020
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops and tells Amy that she is in danger. That night her fiance, Matt doesn't come home. Amy phones the police and reports Matt missing. She's forced to call off her wedding. Then, another man is reported missing by someone called Fiona. The man matches Matt's description. Amy doesn't believe that Matt and Fiona could be lovers but photographs prove this to be true. Matt has been leading a double life.
This story is told from Amy, Fiona and Jess's point of views. There is also some snippets from another person from 1996. A story of secrets and lies. I did not like Matt or Fiona. Matt was controlling, I don't know why any woman liked him. I was pulled in quickly to this story needing to know what was going on. This is a well written and twist filled story. I read this book I one sitting.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #DebbieHowells for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told from Amy, Fiona and Jess's point of views. There is also some snippets from another person from 1996. A story of secrets and lies. I did not like Matt or Fiona. Matt was controlling, I don't know why any woman liked him. I was pulled in quickly to this story needing to know what was going on. This is a well written and twist filled story. I read this book I one sitting.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #DebbieHowells for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2020
I had high hopes for this thriller/crime novel. It started off seeming good but, halfway through I found my concentration waining, it was predictable and I found the characters very lame. I started to get very irritated with them and I didn’t like the way the book kept jumping from one character to another. It’s a shame as I get a lot of pleasure out of reading but, this one didn’t do it for me.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
August 3, 2020
3.5 stars
When Amy's fiancé Matt disappears two weeks before their wedding, she knows something is wrong. After reporting him missing, a couple of days later the police tell Amy that another woman also reported Matt missing - apparently he'd been leading a double life and was planning on leaving her. As details about Amy and Matt's relationship are revealed, and his many lies come to light, Amy begins questioning her own sanity and her past begins to haunt her.
This was a slow paced suspense novel that definitely did a really good job at building up the story, and keeping me clued into what was going to happen next and as always, I was suspecting everyone at one stage or another. There was a good bit of foreshadowing at the start of this novel which I don't always like but I didn't mind it too much in this case.
Debbie Howells is really good at building up a sense of place in her novels and in this case, it was definitely Amy's house and her garden where she grew her flowers and herbs for her job as a herbologist. I felt like I had a really good picture of the amazing garden full of kinds of flowers and it was a beautiful setting - even if the storyline was turning dark.
There wasn't any big shock moments for me in this book to be honest. The closest was possibly the bouquet of flowers with the bag of blood, which was just a really nice touch and just the horror of imagining receiving something like that, gah!
I think the explanation and look into emotionally manipulative, controlling relationships was important in this book, and the particular emphasis on gaslighting and the examples given by Amy's daughter Jess. It's something that I think could help readers recognise it in their own lives if they have experienced it.
Fiona's storyline for me felt a little bit disappointing in the end - I don't think her character was very drawn out and she felt very one-dimensional. I would have liked to have seen a bit more about what happened to her in the end, but it felt like the story just hit a dead end.
There was also some times in the police investigation I felt the line of questioning seemed really strange and speculative, and not particularly realistic. Like the police knowing the symbolism of the flowers in the garden and thinking they meant something - when the woman's job was to grow flowers and herbs.
Overall, I enjoyed this. Not as creepy as The Death of Her but still quite good.
When Amy's fiancé Matt disappears two weeks before their wedding, she knows something is wrong. After reporting him missing, a couple of days later the police tell Amy that another woman also reported Matt missing - apparently he'd been leading a double life and was planning on leaving her. As details about Amy and Matt's relationship are revealed, and his many lies come to light, Amy begins questioning her own sanity and her past begins to haunt her.
This was a slow paced suspense novel that definitely did a really good job at building up the story, and keeping me clued into what was going to happen next and as always, I was suspecting everyone at one stage or another. There was a good bit of foreshadowing at the start of this novel which I don't always like but I didn't mind it too much in this case.
Debbie Howells is really good at building up a sense of place in her novels and in this case, it was definitely Amy's house and her garden where she grew her flowers and herbs for her job as a herbologist. I felt like I had a really good picture of the amazing garden full of kinds of flowers and it was a beautiful setting - even if the storyline was turning dark.
There wasn't any big shock moments for me in this book to be honest. The closest was possibly the bouquet of flowers with the bag of blood, which was just a really nice touch and just the horror of imagining receiving something like that, gah!
I think the explanation and look into emotionally manipulative, controlling relationships was important in this book, and the particular emphasis on gaslighting and the examples given by Amy's daughter Jess. It's something that I think could help readers recognise it in their own lives if they have experienced it.
Fiona's storyline for me felt a little bit disappointing in the end - I don't think her character was very drawn out and she felt very one-dimensional. I would have liked to have seen a bit more about what happened to her in the end, but it felt like the story just hit a dead end.
There was also some times in the police investigation I felt the line of questioning seemed really strange and speculative, and not particularly realistic. Like the police knowing the symbolism of the flowers in the garden and thinking they meant something - when the woman's job was to grow flowers and herbs.
Overall, I enjoyed this. Not as creepy as The Death of Her but still quite good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2020
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Well this was not good. I think having at least 4 separate points of view (POV) did not help matters. And the whole why behind things made not a lick of sense. There was too much going on plot wise. If Howells had kept the book to Amy dealing with the fallout of her fiancee Matt disappearing, and finding out what kind of man he really was deep inside, the book could have worked. Instead there were way too many characters with split motivations. The smartest and most developed character was Amy's daughter Jess, but her POV sections were not enough to help this book.
"The Vow" follows a happily engaged woman named Amy. Amy and her fiancee Matt are to be married in about two weeks. When Matt calls her to tell her he will be late, Amy starts to feel uneasy. When Matt doesn't come home and she is unable to track him down the next day, she calls the police. Quickly things unspool and Amy finds out that the man she has been engaged to, was a total stranger who had a hidden life from her. Howells then follows Amy, her daughter, an unseen narrator, and then another woman throughout this book.
Amy was not smart. I think Howells wanted us to feel sorry for her, but I just felt irritated. We also have a lot of unreliable narrator going on with her and someone else and the whole book just started to wear me down at the 35 percent point.
I can't speak much to anyone else because I don't want to spoil, but Howells just has way too many coincidences in this book to even make sense after a good bit.
The writing wasn't that great. Most of the book had tortured dialogue or someone running around talking like a cartoon villain. There are a lot of logic gaps going on too which I am too tired to get into here.
The flow was really bad. I think if Howells had maybe just kept the book to ping-ponging back between Amy and Jess that it would have been better. But when we have the unnamed narrator, the other character too, and then it was just a lot happening.
The ending made zero sense and I just was glad to be done with this one.
Well this was not good. I think having at least 4 separate points of view (POV) did not help matters. And the whole why behind things made not a lick of sense. There was too much going on plot wise. If Howells had kept the book to Amy dealing with the fallout of her fiancee Matt disappearing, and finding out what kind of man he really was deep inside, the book could have worked. Instead there were way too many characters with split motivations. The smartest and most developed character was Amy's daughter Jess, but her POV sections were not enough to help this book.
"The Vow" follows a happily engaged woman named Amy. Amy and her fiancee Matt are to be married in about two weeks. When Matt calls her to tell her he will be late, Amy starts to feel uneasy. When Matt doesn't come home and she is unable to track him down the next day, she calls the police. Quickly things unspool and Amy finds out that the man she has been engaged to, was a total stranger who had a hidden life from her. Howells then follows Amy, her daughter, an unseen narrator, and then another woman throughout this book.
Amy was not smart. I think Howells wanted us to feel sorry for her, but I just felt irritated. We also have a lot of unreliable narrator going on with her and someone else and the whole book just started to wear me down at the 35 percent point.
I can't speak much to anyone else because I don't want to spoil, but Howells just has way too many coincidences in this book to even make sense after a good bit.
The writing wasn't that great. Most of the book had tortured dialogue or someone running around talking like a cartoon villain. There are a lot of logic gaps going on too which I am too tired to get into here.
The flow was really bad. I think if Howells had maybe just kept the book to ping-ponging back between Amy and Jess that it would have been better. But when we have the unnamed narrator, the other character too, and then it was just a lot happening.
The ending made zero sense and I just was glad to be done with this one.
April 28, 2020
The Vow by Debbie Howells is exactly the kind of story that pulls me in immediately and keeps me fully engaged. Told from several points of view, we meet Abby, a woman who is thrilled to be marrying her fiance, Matt. But when Matt unexpectedly leaves one night telling Amy to 'take care', she feels that something just isn't right. These are not the parting words of a man who is madly in love and excited to jump into holy matrimony. When Matt has not returned by the next morning, Amy knows immediately that this is not a case of her betrothed sleeping it off somewhere for a night. Matt has disappeared. Amy's daughter Jess is not altogether shocked by the news. Something has always niggled about her mother's relationship, and this is her chance to expose Matt for the man she believes him to be. When another woman reports that her boyfriend has also gone missing, the description she provides is too similar to be a mere coincidence. Just who is Matt, where has he gone, and what is he trying to hide?
This is a twisty tale that held my attention for the first 70% of the book, but then things started to unravel somewhat. The storyline went a little astray, and I could not suspend my disbelief quite enough to be fully satisfied with the way things wrap up. All in all, this is a solid read, and I will look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.
This is a twisty tale that held my attention for the first 70% of the book, but then things started to unravel somewhat. The storyline went a little astray, and I could not suspend my disbelief quite enough to be fully satisfied with the way things wrap up. All in all, this is a solid read, and I will look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.
September 27, 2024
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.
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.
September 21, 2020
I love finding a new author who writes a terrific debut suspense/thriller. Amy and Matt are getting married in two weeks, just a few final details remain. That is until Matt disappears. As the story unfolds, you meet Jess, Amy's daughter from her first marriage, and her friend Cath. Amy has a wonderful daughter, her own herbalist business that she built, and is now marrying a man she loves. After Matt disappears and their love story begins to unravel, details from their pasts come to light and this story is just hard to put down. Thank you Avon Books UK and #netgalley for allowing me to preview this book #thevow
September 16, 2020
This book has it all: an intriguing story, unreliable narrators, lies, secrets and a character you love to hate.
Two weeks before the wedding Amy’s fiancé Matt goes missing. He just does not come home after having dinner with a client. Amy is devastated. She is so happy to have found love again after an unhappy marriage and years of her own raising her daughter Jess. Amy tells the police how happy she and Matt were and how much they were looking forward to their wedding. But were they really?
This was a fun read. The book is fast paced and there are a few twists. I read it in one sitting and while the story offers nothing knew it is still very entertaining.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Two weeks before the wedding Amy’s fiancé Matt goes missing. He just does not come home after having dinner with a client. Amy is devastated. She is so happy to have found love again after an unhappy marriage and years of her own raising her daughter Jess. Amy tells the police how happy she and Matt were and how much they were looking forward to their wedding. But were they really?
This was a fun read. The book is fast paced and there are a few twists. I read it in one sitting and while the story offers nothing knew it is still very entertaining.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 1, 2022
There is a pattern emerging - I start out really liking a book and at some point about a third of the way in the book goes sour for me. Sometimes this happens about halfway through. Then I have to decide whether or not to finish the book. I usually do. But I am muddling through, willing it to end. That was the case with me while reading THE VOW. It went amiss. Multiple points of view and flashbacks often do not appeal to me. There are many exceptions to that statement though. Some of my fave books use those tools, but I really love a straightforward singular person point of view.
Amy's fiance is missing. Did she do something to him?
Read it and find out.
I didn't care after awhile, but the plot had some unique and interesting aspects to it such as her profession as a herbalist. I don't know a lot about herbs so I learned something here.
I think I read one of Debbie Howells' books in the past and enjoyed it, but I am uncertain about that.
Amy's fiance is missing. Did she do something to him?
Read it and find out.
I didn't care after awhile, but the plot had some unique and interesting aspects to it such as her profession as a herbalist. I don't know a lot about herbs so I learned something here.
I think I read one of Debbie Howells' books in the past and enjoyed it, but I am uncertain about that.
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