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

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

When Amy's fiance goes missing two weeks before their wedding, her life is thrown into chaos. Little does she know that Matt's disappearance would upend her life.

A story of betrayals, lies, and a haunted past make up this novel. It has shades of Gone Girl in it, but it's very much its own story. It's hard to know who to trust in this novel, but the characters are well written and the narrative moves smoothly through all the twists and turns without ever becoming so wild that it's unbelievable.

Enjoyed this one. Started off with everything being perfect 2 weeks before a wedding and before you know it, there’s a missing partner and it all starts to go horribly wrong! Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. And enough in the story to make you suspect anyone. Really good read. Worth adding to the to read pile. Thank you for letting me review this book.

I’d seen so much talk about The Vow on Twitter, so I decided I definitely needed to check it out for myself – as soon as I hear that there’s a new thriller, I’m all over it. And this did not disappoint. The novel jumps between different perspectives – Amy, Fiona (who both claim they are in a serious relationship with Matt, who is missing), Jess (Amy’s daughter), and a mystery narration. Each perspective offers a unique insight into the plot. The best way I can describe it is as different puzzle pieces which eventually all slot together.

The most gripping, and at times frustrating, part of the book, is how there are no hints given as to who is innocent and who is guilty. I kept changing my mind, and it wasn’t until the last few chapters that everything is revealed. I really enjoyed that element of being kept in the dark, it made me feel a lot more involved with the story and characters.

Speaking of characters, they were really well presented and described. Especially Matt – he was really easy to hate, especially when we learn more about his gaslighting and almost psychotic tendencies.

At times, the tense used/the flashbacks included in chapters were slightly confusing, so I think my only criticism is that it could have been made a bit clearer as to when characters were reflecting on the past or speaking about the present.

Overall, I think this is a really strong thriller novel and it had me gripped throughout, I think I read it in about 2 days! Although I wouldn’t say that it’s the best advocate for marriage…

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me with an early copy in exchange for a review!

Debbie Howells certainly knows how to create a suspenseful tale. Amy finds herself at the centre of a missing-person’s case when her fiancée disappears. Is she responsible? Or is the “other woman” in Matt’s life to blame? An enjoyable thriller with many twists and turns!

Tense chilling from opening scenes.The best type of thriller it kept me guessing from beginning to end.An author to follow a book I highly recommend.#thevow#netgalkey

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.

This is an okay read exploring Amy's relationship with Matt and the truth about them slowly unravels. Part one focuses on Amy telling the story of their relationship and her struggle with accepting the possibility he might have duped her. Then in part two, the truth starts to emerge as we realise all the characters are holding secrets and none of them are being honest about their connection to Matt or how he really behaved.

All of this should have made for a thrilling, intense read but something did not quite translate and I was not hooked or addicted to the read. Howells builds this atmosphere that does not really go anywhere. What could have been a dangerous situation just ends and I was left disappointed by the reveal.

The characters are good and I enjoyed getting to know Amy and Fiona in particular. From early on we know there is more going on than first appears and it was interesting trying to work out what the truth would be. Some of the twists are more obvious than others but none of them are very shocking or electrifying.

'The Vow' is okay but that is the problem, all of this is just okay and there needed to be something extra to really bring some intensity and adrenaline to the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy.

Complex and twisted thriller with no clear motive for a long time. Good,strong female characters,especially the daughter.

A real page turner. It kept my interest from the first page to the last, and kept you guessing. I liked the way the book was written from the point of view of the main protagonists. It added a different dimension to what you thought you believed had happened. I understand this is a new writer. It is well written. The people are well defined and believable. I can't wait until her next book. Well done.

This was a pretty darn good thriller with a heck of a lot of twists, turns, thrill and suspense. Amy and Matt are 2 weeks away from their wedding and Amy is warned in the street by a stranger that she is in danger. Matt appears to have disappeared! She learns Matt is hiding some secrets, but she has some of her own as well. The story is told in Amy and Jess' (her daughter) point of view.

What I liked? Strong main characters. Twists and surprises galore.

What I didn't like? Seems to be following same thriller/suspense recipe of other novels. A tad bit predictable in some parts

Overall, I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review
Available: 10/1/2020

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 story is told from 3 different points of view - Amy, her daughter Jess and Fiona. Initially, you can't help but feel sorry for Amy and what she is going through, but as more and more is revealed about their relationship, you can't believe that she really thought that Matt was so wonderful she wanted to marry him. Talk about fooling yourself!! Amy is a likeable character even though she has "victim" written all over her. Jess loves her mother very much and even though she is not "taken" with Matt she tries to support Amy and be happy for her. Fiona is the "other woman" and an attorney who doesn't come across as a real likeable person. While she is smart and tough, she also gets hood-winked, but you don't ever feel very sorry for her.

I very much enjoyed this book although some elements were somewhat contrived and a little far-fetched. Definitely kept my interest and made me want to finish it to find out how it all came together.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of this book for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
When her fiancé, Matt, disappears two weeks before the wedding, Amy is worried. A stranger had warned her that she may be in danger.
Amy reports a missing persons and soon she finds out that she is not the only one who has done so. Another woman who claims that Matt was leaving Amy for her, has also reported Matt missing and she has more proof than Amy that she is telling the truth. What does she have against Amy? Who is telling the truth?
The story is told in turns by Amy, her daughter Jess, the other woman Fiona and another voice from their past. Fast paced and a delightful read