What It Seems is the first book I have read by Emily Bleeker and although I liked it, I didn't love it. I guess my expectations after reading the blurb of the book were pretty high and the book didn't turn out to be how it sounded in the blurb.

The strongest point about the book was 20 year old Tara and her story about the dismal life and the psychological and emotional damage she suffers constantly at the hands of her foster 'Mother' with whom Tara is living since she was 8 years old. By suffering both physical and mental torture at the hands of her foster mother, Tara has lost all sense of self worth and self love; she is constantly reminded that her birth parents gave her up willingly, a point which she doesn't completely understand. Her only friends are her dolls and a sparrow who visits her and her only outlet are the YouTube family videos she loves to watch, especially of the Feely family.

For Tara, the Feely family represent the ideal family for her and when an opportunity arises for her to both accept an internship with them and escape her foster mother's clutches, she grabs it. However, she soon realises that her ideal family is not who they show themselves to be and on top of that her foster mother is still adamant to get her back.

The weakest point in the book were the Feely family. I thought that this family would be hiding some dark, sinister secret but it was nothing of the sort. Also, the characterisation of every member of the Feely family was vague... they just seemed like types rather than real characters.

The best parts of the book were the ones that dealt solely with Tara, her inner musings and her interactions with her dolls as they clearly show how vulnerable, scared and starved of love she is while still clinging onto this hope that things will get better. And it is for these parts that I rate the book around 3-3.5*.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Lake Union Publishing and the author Emily Bleeker for the e-Arc of the book. I look forward to reading more books of the author and will look out for her other titles.

Hank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book.

When I read the excerpt for this book, it sounded like something I would love to read. Unfortunately this book just didn’t work for me at all and I’ve had to put it down at about 30%.

Living with her abusive foster mother from a young age, Tara doesn't know love or family. Her only escape from her terrible life is the Feeley family videos online. When she manages to get her dream job working for the family, Tara has to be brave and clever to escape her foster mother. She loves the job but struggles with the baggage from her previous life. I really enjoyed this book. I found myself quickly being drawn to the characters and staying up late to read that "one more chapter". The story is clever with those much needed twists and is well written. Will now be looking to download some more of this authors work to my kindle.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant idea for a thriller! What it Seems is the story of Tara/Angela, a young woman who has been raised by an abusive woman and whose only joy in life is watching her favourite Youtube family. One day she gets the chance to work with them and so she runs away from home, although this might not be the perfect escape she dreamed of.

This book starts slow for the first few chapters but I soon got into it. As soon as the Youtube stuff begins, the plot really takes off and I couldn't wait to see how things played out. I will say, I was expecting this book to be slightly darker based off the cover and description. It is light on the thriller elements (although not tone) and it never really went to the places I wanted it to. Similarly, there aren't really any twists? There is a revelation our main character has which was sort of treated like a twist but I can't believe it was intended to actually be one since I assumed that was the intended plot from the start. Having said that, I was engaged throughout and this definitely has a unique plot compared to most thrillers. What it lacks in thriller gimmicks, it makes up for in a solid story and interesting characters.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of the genre. It isn't especially dark but it creates a great atmosphere and it stood out just for the novelty of the content. I have a few other books on my TBR by this author that I've been putting off but I will definitely make them more of a priority now.

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

This book grabbed my attention from the cover but as soon as I started it, it wasn’t anything like what I thought it was going to be and I didn’t even want to finish it.

Triggers: Child abuse, Physical/ Emotional abuse

I received this early readers’ copy from @netgalley and @LakeUnionPublishing an exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book for my honest review. Yayy I was so excited that I was chosen to read and review this book and it was simply delicious that I devoured it in one sitting. Great book!

I've only read one of Bleeker's other novels, but this one still didn't quiiiiite measure up. Don't get me wrong, I still really liked and enjoyed reading this one, but I don't feel it was her strongest move as a writer.

My favorite thing about Bleeker as an author, and this book, was all the dark turns and twists that seemed to come out of nowhere so many times. Figuring out who to trust was difficult and ever-changing, and the MC was determined and never gave up-- despite making some decisions that I personally might have done differently haha. The story is a rollercoaster and it ends up being juuuust unbelievable enough that it succeeded in telling a thrilling, compelling story.

I will definitely be following Bleeker for more.

Wow! This was a good book and hard to read at the same time! I know terrible stuff like this happens, probably way more than we want to know, but it is hard to read about. I am so glad that she got out! Amazing story!

I am a big Emily Bleeker fan. I’ve read all her books and really liked them. I have to admit that this is my least favorite of her books, but I still liked it well enough.

The main character is Tara/Angela—a 20 year old who has been raised in a horrendous, abusive, intolerable situation which just broke my heart. Her mother is awful. (Like angry, psycho, sadistically awful.) Part of me kept thinking this would never happen in real life. Except it does. I know people who have lived similar lives.

As a result of her upbringing, Angela is very socially awkward, has no friends, and doesn’t have the best hygiene habits. She is very smart in many ways (she finds ways to rebel in secret using advanced computer skills) but has very few interpersonal skills (develops a strong emotional attachment to a YouTube family). Again, this seemed a little unbelievable, except that I know people like her.

When Angela escaped her abusive situation and applied for a job with this family, I really cheered for her. She was so brave. I couldn’t figure out at first why the Feelys would hire her since she was so socially inept (and smelled). But then as the story went on, it started to make sense.

As in all of Bleeker’s books, the plot was twisty. Figuring out motivations and who Angela could trust (or shouldn’t trust) was compelling. While Angela made some really dumb decisions, she was also tenacious in her determination to become an independent person. I liked the end well enough, but felt it went a little too fast and wrapped up too neatly.

All in all, I recommend this book with some cautions. It’s not a story for young teens. There is quite a bit of violence at times. If you’re triggered by kidnapping, physical harm, death threats or emotional manipulation, this may not be the story for you. While the issues resolve, it’s not what I’d call redemptive for people who’ve experienced abuse. But it was a good mystery, with unfolding characters and lots of twists—and the title is a red herring, because nothing and no one in this book are what they seem to be at first.

I give it 4 stars, and recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, ages 18+. (Also, if this is the first book you’ve read by Emily Bleeker, I recommend you read WRECKAGE or THE WAITING ROOM, which is her at her absolute best.)

This is one wild thriller! I liked the pacing and the general plot. I do feel like the story was a little unbelievable at times, but overall this was a fun, binge worthy read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of What It Seems by Emily Bleeker.

Tara is a pregnant twenty year old that has just been confronted for shoplifting while out with her mother. Except, she's not really pregnant, and her mother put her up to it. Tara has hazy memories of her life before mother, but her mother is now all she knows, and her life is terrible. Turning to any solace she can, Tara quickly becomes enamored with a Youtube family and their seemingly perfect life. So when they advertise for an intern, Tara finds it an offer too good to pass up, and definitely worth the risk of angering mother.

Eh, okay sure, it was fine. COMPLETELY unbelievable, every bit of it, but it was readable, and during a quarantine, that's all I ask. I think what drove me the most crazy was the complete gullibility of ALL of the characters, excluding Henry. But even Henry's complicity and savvy was unbelievable. So, I was entertained, but not exactly sold.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so good! It kept my attention and was fast paced the whole time.

This book follows Tara who lives with her abusive foster mother who makes her steal and locks her in a room coming up with these outrageous punishments if Tara does something wrong. She discovers and starts following the Feely family on YouTube and ends up applying for a position with them on a whim. She manages to escape her mother to join the perfect family-or so it seems. With the Feely family comes more secrets that are hidden from the cameras and the few million followers. Tara jumps from one unstable situation into another.

From the abusive situation into one full of secrets, this book kept my interest all the way through.

My only complaint is the ending felt really rushed-like the author had basically used up the allotted word count but still needed to wrap up the story. Otherwise the story from start to finish was interesting.

TW/CW: kidnapping, abuse and neglect, attempted sexual assault.

What it seems was an average read for me. The storyline was an interesting one that held my attention throughout. This was my first book i have read by the author and I would be interested in reading more of her work.

Tara is a twenty-year old who has been raised by her foster Mom in a very small life. She spends her day helping her foster Mother with the business, including her nefarious trips into the city. But Tara has a dream to live a bigger life and to find a family...and sh'e's found that with an online family, The Feelys. The Feelys are popular vloggers with their own online channel. To Tara, they feel like a real family. When The Feelys post a position for an intern she scrambles to apply for the opportunity of her dreams. But can she break away from her current situation and find her own happiness?

In What It Seems it quickly comes apparent that a better title could not have been chosen. Because within the story, nothing really is What it Seems, including Tara itself. I really could not read this book fast enough. And although parts of the story may have been difficult to believe (but of course it is a thriller, after all), the story was so engaging and the main character so likeable that it didn't matter.

I've been a fan of books by Emily Bleeker, having previously read When I'm Gone, Wreckage, The Waiting Room, and Working Fire. Naturally I was thrilled with the latest book release and was not disappointed.

I enjoyed this quick read and found it to be an interesting premise. The main character's inner voice got a little tiresome after awhile though. Overall, it was a quick, fast-paced read and was an enjoyable one.

3.5 stars rounded up.
TW: child abuse/torture, one brief scene of animal abuse, one brief scene of attempted sexual harassment

This is the story of Tara, a 12-year-old in a 20-year-old's body. For eight years she has been the victim of an abusive, sadistic, controlling adopted mother who has forced her to shoplift to help put food on the table. Tara hasn't attended school since she was hit by a car at the age of 8 and then adopted by "Mother." She doesn't watch television, play games or leave her room except to eat meals.

While in her room, Tara's door is deadbolted from the outside and it's her "job" to list all of her stolen items on eBay. But while she has a computer, she's not allowed to use it except for her job. Mother ensures her keystrokes are monitored.

When Tara misbehaves, Mother's wrath is swift and nearly deadly. She is beaten, locked in her closet for days and food and water are withheld. Tara lives a most horrific life, except when she removes the keystroke machine and watches Youtube videos. Her favorite is AllTheFeels with the Feely family.

The Feelys are like a real family to Tara, who longs to be loved like the three kids in the family's daily vlogs. When an opportunity arises to intern with the family, Tara finds the strength to disobey Mother to interview for the job.

Here's where the story begins to fall apart some and you'll need some suspension of disbelief when Tara finds herself with the Feelys. It's hard to imagine this super-popular vlogging family wanting to employ a self-described "stinky" young pregnant woman--Mother forces Tara to wear a pregnancy prosthetic to hide her stolen goods in, which Tara wears to the interview with the Feelys--and invite her into their home, despite her grand plans for the family's Youtube content.

I nearly put the book down at the 40 percent point because the story changed so dramatically, but I trudged along and I'm glad I did. What it Seems wound up being a pretty good read (although the ending was a little too feel-good...forgive the pun). I subtracted a star because of the suspension of disbelief factor and the too tidy ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Avoid, avoid, avoid, if you have triggers to severe child abuse.

I have never written a review like this one before and I hope to never have to again. As a reader/reviewer, I have read many genres and subjects that I don't particularly care for, and I have no problem with that. I don't consider myself a squeamish or judgmental reader. However, the focus on not only severe, but horrific child abuse in What It Seems had me cringing from the beginning. And to what purpose? The rest of the story line was unfulfilling and the characters tepid at best. So what was the point, truly?

As a reviewer for NetGalley and publishing houses, I felt obligated to finish the book to try to find any redeeming qualities, but I found none. If the author feels this is entertaining, I'll be skipping future reads.

My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The pages flew by...Bleeker is a very skilled suspense writer.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tara was 8 when she went to live with her foster mother, locked in a room at all times she finds her happiness in a Vlog on YouTube. Tara has never known what it was like to be with an actual real family. Tara has always been isolated, but she did what she could to live each day in the life of her controlling foster mother.

What It Seems by Emily Bleeker is a tense and taut thriller that kept me fully engaged and turning the pages with a growing sense of unease. This is the first novel that I have read from this author, but I am certainly looking for more to add to my always growing TBR list.

Tara was adopted by her foster mother when she was eight years old. Never having a clear understanding of why her birth family abandoned her, Tara is a damaged young woman who has found herself the victim of emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of 'Mother'. Her only outlet is watching YouTube videos of seemingly happy families. When the opportunity of an internship arises with her favourite blogging family, the Feelys, Tara, now calling herself Angela, finds it within herself to escape the clutches of Mother, and lands not only the job, but a place within the family that she has come to love. But not everything is as perfect as it appears from the outside, and Tara must find a way to not only reconcile herself with this surprising dose of reality, but to also break free from a mother who does not want to let her go.

This was a fast-paced read that kept me sufficiently and satisfyingly unsettled throughout,

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC.