The Vow

by Denene Millner, Angela Burt-Murray, Mitzi Miller

In this runaway hit novel, three best friends come together for their sorority sister's glitzy wedding in Atlanta and make a vow to get married within one year. As they embark on their search to find their soul mates, they navigate the full-contact sport known as being a SSBFLA (successful, single, black, female in L.A.) and negotiate the shark-infested waters of making a name for themselves professionally in Hollywood. Can Trista, the hyper-driven celebrity agent, find the time to schedule a meaningful romance? Will Amaya, the sexy starlet, convince the married hip hop-label exec she has been seeing to leave his wife, or will the NBA star steal her heart in the final seconds? After undergoing a complete makeover, will Vivian, the jaded gossip columnist, win back the father of her child? As seductive as it is empowering, The Vow is a page-turner that will keep you cheering for these women as they discover that their desire to find a husband isn't as important as finding themselves.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, African American, Novels

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Denene Millner is a six-time New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-nominated TV show host and award-winning journalist and book publisher who has written more than 30 books, among them: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, co-written with Steve Harvey; Around the Way Girl, a memoir with actress Taraji P. Henson; the Fresh Princess picture books, with Will Smith; and, The Vow, the novel on which the hit Lifetime movie, “With This Ring,” was based. The writer and editor is also the editorial director and publisher of Denene Millner Books, an award-winning imprint that publishes stories featuring Black children and families, by Black authors and illustrators. The DMB list includes two Caldecott Honor books, a Kirkus Prize for Children’s Literature, two Society for Illustrator honors, a Southern Book Award, an instant New York Times bestseller and three NAACP nominations. Denene also co-hosts the nationally syndicated PBS show, A Seat at the Table, and is the host of “Speakeasy with Denene,” a podcast exploring Black culture. Denene’s upcoming novel, One Blood, a multi-generational epic about motherhood, adoption and race, is slated to be published in eight countries when it debuts in 2023. A MacDowell fellow, Denene lives in Atlanta with her two daughters and their goldendoodle, Franklin.

Reviews

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read. Lots of unexpected turns definitely worth reading.

[Nakia · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars

“‘…why is it so hard to believe that if you put your minds to it, you can find a man who loves you unconditionally and who’s willing to pledge his undying love for you by year’s end?’" This is the question that leads three close girlfriends to make a pact on New Years Eve, to each find a husband in a years time.

Trista, Amaya, and Viv all have the typical issues that pop up in novels like these, along with family and career drama that can cause even more bumps along the road to love. This one had a lot of funny scenes tho, and it didn't get too corny until the end (and since chick lit themed novels always have corny endings, that was expected). Definitely reminded me of a Waiting to Exhale for the mid-00s.

I had only a few issues with the book. I'm not a fan of books that drop fashion labels or mention technology a lot because it makes the story extremely dated, and they went kind of heavy with this throughout. Also, there was one character whose development was not as strong as the others until the last third of the book, which seemed odd to me. And lastly, with one character struggling with her weight, it was obvious that her part was written by someone who has never dealt with weight issues before. Much of the discussion surrounding that part of the book was cringe worthy.

All of that aside, I enjoyed the drama and the sister-friend moments in this one, and recommend it for those who want to flashback to a decade ago, and who love women centered fiction.

[Meryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was bad. I was so excited to read it and so disappointed by the end. The writing is bad: the quips are neither witty nor funny, I don’t genuinely believe that these characters are friends nor do they even seem like real people. I didn’t buy any of the contrivances in the book and I didn’t enjoy reading it enough to disregard that.

These women are assholes. And that’s fine, not all protagonists have to be likable, but these women are shallow and selfish and self-centered and the book definitely wants you to root for them. The book is not making a broad or satirical point by making them insufferable.

Most egregiously, they’re homophobes! The book itself parrots some truly abhorrent assumptions about and disdain toward gay people through the three main characters that we’re supposed to like. The book is dated and very much of its time, yes, (hence the torrent of name-dropping, references to exclusive restaurants/luxury cars/couture designers, etc.) but while anti-gay slurs may have been more commonly used in the mid-2000s, that didn’t make them acceptable then nor does it now. One of the leads outs another character and we’re supposed to be entertained by this or see it as justice because it humiliates a different awful character. No. Just a bouquet of no.

There’s nothing redeeming about this book in my eyes. I’m actually mad that I finished it.

[Destiny “ Dee” · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by these authors. I listened to the audiobook. It was a pretty good book. I was a bit thrown off, as I watched the movie on lifetime, With This Ring, which was based on the book. They changed the movie up way too much. I prefer the book over the movie. Trista, Amaya, Vivian, and Elise were line sisters for their sorority and really good friends. At Elise's wedding Vivian, Trista, and Amaya make a Vow that in a year, they too would be married. This book tells the tale of their lives and relationships to the following year's end. Some of the scenes cracked me up. What they learned about themselves and relationships during that year were life lessons. I recommend this book to hopeless romantics. I gave this book a 4 star review because of the ending. Originally was thinking it was a 3.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated this book. I read it because it fit in with a book challenge I am doing, and it was somewhat short (only 300 something pages) so I thought it would be a quick read. I found myself offended by a lot of the remarks made by the authors through the different characters, and did not find the story at all entertaining. The only thing I somewhat liked was that each chapter was told by a different character.

[Pria Alston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book but I did. Amaya, Trista and Vivian are my friends/Sorors sisters. Their interactions cracked me up although some of the dialogue felt dated.
There were some laugh-out-loud parts and unexpected twists. It got really corny at the end but that is to be expected.

[Jackie Mays · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storyline

Easy read, not as predictable and more realistic toward the end. Would have added an additional star but the book was lengthened by over describing wardrobe and labels on everything.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about three friends who make a vow to find husbands in one year. I enjoyed reading the book, although it's not an award winning by any means.

[Courtney Nicole Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. Amaya was a trip but undoubtedly my favorite character. I didn't quite expect it to end the way it did but am glad that in the end there were lessons learned and in some cases love was found.

[Velda L. Shorter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

This book puts reality on paper. Most of the time we must learn to accept what God allows and learn to appreciate what He has for us. He often let's us know what's in store for us without making a Vow!

[Asia Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characterization was good, and each woman has a unique storyline. The end wrapped up too quickly for me, with a couple of the characters’ conveniently hasty decisions.

[Ida Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in this book was very surprising.
It flowed very nice and was pretty much easy to read.

Good one

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

[Cassandra]

Not even half a star. I just can’t, no longer interested. Don’t want to wade through all the tropes to even see if there is interesting character development here….

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows a year in the lives of best friends Trista, Vivian, Elise, Amaya (I think there may be one more) after Elise marries the man of her dreams. The other girls make a Vow to be married by the next new year. Trista is stuck between a old college sweet heart, Damon and the bourgeois Garrett. Vivian is stuck with her love and desire complete her family of three by marrying her child's father, Sean and trying to make him jealous with another man. Amaya is divided between her love of a married man, Keith and her new fling, b-ball player Troy. The story ends as it should.

So many characters with some many men problems. Too much for me. This book was LONG. I would compare it to Waiting to Exhale. If you liked Waiting, you will most likely enjoy The Vow.

[Lorrea - WhatChaReadin'? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three friends vow at another friend's wedding that they are going to find husbands within the next year. Women like Trista, Amaya, and Vivian don't come around a lot, so any man would be lucky to have them. Trista, the Hollywood agent, who is accomplishing everything she set out to do. Amaya, emerging actress who wants just one man, problem: he's married. And Vivian, she has been pining over her baby daddy since the moment she met him, if only she could get him to return the feelings instead of just meeting up for "ex-sex". Will the women be able to accomplish The Vow, or are they meant for other things.

[Ashley FL · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this cover -- for my library copy you remove the pink band and the dress this woman is wearing is GORGEOUS.

Interesting chick-lit that takes place in LA. It was amazing to me how different these women's views on men were (vs mine and those of my friends) and really brought home to me how much of an impact race can make.

[Jarika Tucker]

This book has got to be one of my favorites. All of the main characters (3) are so diverse, yet they are believably best friends. They help each other shoulder the weight of their broken dreams, and they are the glue that pastes those dreams firmly back together. I loved it! I recommended it to my closest friend, and she LOVED it as well! Great read!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining & Enjoyable read. This story follows the journey of 3 besties who vow to get married in 1 year, while trying to build a name for themselves and advance in their respected careers. This book is not predictable and there are a lot of ooh, ahh and oh heck no moments. This is a definite page turner!

[Rion · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I was highly impressed with the movie, With This Ring (the movie is loosely, extremely loosely based off of The Vow) I thought "Wow if the movie was this good the book has to be AMAZING!" Boy oh boy was I wrong. The writing is horrible, the characters lack depth, and the storyline is all over the place. I rarely say this but, the movie was better than the book.

[Charreah Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very relatable on three very different women having a strong bond of friendship. Some things I saw coming and some I was certainly not expecting. I adore the real three women who keep young women inspired!!

[Portia Taylor Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad that I tried this author-trio of Denene Millner, Angela Burt-Murray, and Mitzi Miller. The Vow was a good read. I am looking for a sequel ... the characters felt like friends, their quest was realistic yet colorful...

[Ratforce]

This novel, written by three different authors, follows successful black women as they navigate the LA dating pool. Each author tells the story of a different friend as she tries to find a man worth marrying before the year is up.

[Sandra. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I was hooked and didn't want to put it down! I'm hoping they branch off with at least one book per main character: Amaya, Trista, and Vivian so that we can find out where they go in life past "The Vow."

Get it, read it, you'll love it!

[Kai McIver · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read but the situation with Trista was predictable. I knew her man's secret before it was revealed. Gotta think of other storyline's besides that one. Have seen it way too much in black fiction novels. It is getting a little old in my opinion.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh . . . this book is so good. I seriously could not put it down. One of my girlfriends gave it to me for a birthday gift - but I didn't get it until SHE finished reading it!

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about 3 friends, it was a nice and light read. I liked how each chapter was from a different character's perspective.

[stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

love scenes were a bit too graphic for me.
story was a bit lame. it wasn't horrible but it was unrealistic and a scene I am totally not familiar with (hollywood).

[Carla wynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three women looking for love in all the wrong places.

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read! Lots of drama and laughs, with a few *smh* thrown in.