This one is a must read psychological thriller and I was hooked from the beginning. Loved the social media/influencer theme. The storyline is really well developed. It has the perfect pace and flows well. It’s a quick and easy read. The characters are intriguing and well developed so much so you don’t know if you like or dislike them. The author definitely builds the suspense but gives you just enough to keep turning those pages to unveil the next twist or turn. I had a totally different outcome built up in my head so not sure if that impacted my feelings on the ending. This is a must read and one I really enjoyed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #TheFakeMother

The Fake Mother by Jenna Kernan, I was so excited to read this book Bailey gets hired as Eliza’s assistant and she cannot wait to feel like part of the family. Eliza is an influencer and has three kids Aubrey, mason and Harper. She knows their rooms as much as she knows her own and the seemingly obsessed with the family but soon she’ll learn nothing in the influencers life is how Bailey thought it would be. From her cozy home to her very intelligent children and even her husband it seems there isn’t anything Eliza wouldn’t lie about and nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her secrets. from the first day Bailey is let down especially when Eliza shows her the mini home Bailey will be living in it’s as big as a storage container and she’s not allowed in the main house. She can’t have fast food on the property not even in her home she cannot leave the property except on Sundays but only when Eliza doesn’t find a reason for her to stay. on the very first night someone tries to open Bailey’s door and a few days later someone tries to assault Eliza’s oldest daughter 14-year-old Aubrey in this will just be his first visit to the property her and Aubrey become close and Aubrey tells her all her doubts about her seemingly perfect mom. we also learned that Bailey has her own reasons for being there in Baily story is not one Eliza will want to share on Instagram but Eliza does have big news to tell and it’s something that is devastating to Bailey but as the reader you left clueless as to why this affects her so much. This was an awesome great read and it definitely didn’t go in the direction I thought it was going to go and it all made for one great wild, OMG thriller. I love Jenna Kernan‘s books but thought this one was very intelligently done and absolutely shows the author’s talent which is outstanding. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers especially those who like to think they know how it’s going to end because trust me it will not end the way you think. So so good! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#JennaKernan, #TheFakeMother,

Great domestic thriller and this author delivered some twists that you simply won’t see coming! With alternating POVs between Eliza & Bailey, the story was balanced between the characters and it was very well written!

This book screamed phony at its finest! Eliza has it all, she is a social media influencer with 3 amazing kids, a handsome husband and more money than she needs. When she hires Bailey as her personal assistant, it is obvious that both of these ladies have some secrets they prefer to stay buried! And boy oh boy!! When these secrets are revealed, it will definitely be some jaw dropping moments.

Overall an intriguing read that kept my attention the entire time! Recommend for fans of domestic psychological thrillers. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I found this book to be very slow in places, very interesting characters.
This is my first book by this author and will be reading more.
Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for letting me read this book for an honest review

The twists and turns had me guessing to the very end. It felt extremely real, and makes you stop to consider what is the truth when it comes to lives of social media influencers, especially those with kids. This was a classic “Instagram” vs “Reality”. I definitely did not see where Bailey’s character was heading, and in fact at one point thought she might have been the mother of Aubrey, the eldest daughter. The only thing stopping it from being a 5 star read was how the trail surrounding Kaiden’s disappearance seemed to wrap up a bit too neatly and quickly. Otherwise I loved it and I can’t wait to see what other readers thought of it. I will certainly be reading more from Jenna Kernan!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced review copy.

So this book was a solid read for me. It was an easy read, even with multiple POVs. I had it devoured in less than 24 hours!

I was interested in the characters and story from the beginning, through there were times the progress slowed and seemed watered down with too many details/irrelevant information.

The author did great at characterization though. I really liked Aubree and her desire to find out the truth about her parents and family. Even as a sheltered, poorly educated teen, she knew things happening to and around her weren’t quite right.

I’ll admit, I liked Bailey for most of the story. I like a good underdog, and I really thought she would be the heroine for those kids. Her connection to Eliza was relatively easy to figure out by halfway through the book, and I’m a little bummed she was revealed to be crazy at the end!

A solid amount of twists and turns fueled the story and kept me interested. I did not have the entire ending figured out, but I’m not happy with how all of it played out. Kaiden’s storyline, for example, was just rushed with little explanation. I wanted to know more. Also, I wish more had come about from Aubree’s real father. Maybe Eliza would confess the truth to her daughter or at least tell her about her father.

This was my first book from this author but I plan to read her other titles.

Eliza Watts has it all. The perfect life living on a farm; insta-worthy animals; a perfect, handsome and attentive husband; and three perfect children. But when Bailey is hired as her assistant, she soon realises that Eliza’s life isn't as perfect as it seems. Most of it is fake and put on for the cameras. And Bailey is determined for Eliza’s 5million followers to know the truth.

Is being insta-famous worth it? Well, Eliza definitely thought so. This book really shows the reader just how far some people go to appear perfect online, and gives us a little look into the reality behind the camera. This was a thrilling read with a few twists, only one of which I'd managed to work out.

I read this very quickly as I felt drawn into the book right away, the twists and turns were also exciting and kept me hooked.

The Fake Mother by Jenna Kernan is a psychological thriller that pulls you into the world of a social media influencer, showing what might really be happening behind the scenes. When Bailey lies her way into a job as Eliza’s assistant, she quickly realizes the perfect-looking Watts family isn’t so perfect after all. Bailey puts up with a lot to keep her job, but she’s also hiding some big secrets of her own. Everything finally unravels in the last few chapters — and some of the twists seriously surprised me.

The story started a little slow for me. At first, it felt like Bailey was putting up with way too much, but there were hints that she was desperate for the job and had a past she didn’t want anyone digging into. As more of her backstory and the family’s reality came out, I got more and more hooked. Some of the twists definitely caught me off guard. I’m giving this one 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good, twisty thriller that keeps you guessing.

This was my first time reading anything by Jenna Kernan, and I’m definitely planning to check out more of her books. I could even see a sequel happening — the ending leaves plenty of room for a future update on the Watts children, Eliza, and Bailey.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Fake Mother’ written by Jenna Kernan in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Bailey Asher is employed as personal assistant to Eliza Watts, organic farming influencer with over five million followers, and it’s her chance to get inside Eliza’s empire and learn the truth about her life and family. As Bailey befriends the oldest child, fourteen-year-old Aubree, she learns more than she expected, but she isn’t the only one telling lies and if Eliza discovers the truth it’s not only Bailey’s job that’s at risk.

‘The Fake Mother’ was slow to get going with a plot that was impossibly far-fetched but by the time I was halfway through I began to enjoy it and it had me gripped as I started getting involved with the characters. This is an action-packed psychological thriller that has its fair share of suspense and twists and turns that I can recommend for readers who enjoy an ending that’s as unexpected as it is shocking.

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

the story follows Bailey, who is hired as an assistant by the seemingly perfect Eliza Watts. but Bailey isn’t just looking for a job—she has her own reasons for getting close to Eliza’s flawless life. as she begins her job, Bailey starts to uncover the secrets hiding behind her boss’s perfect image.

this was an easy read, and some of the twists were interesting enough to keep me going. however, the execution didn’t fully work for me. a lot of scenes were weighed down with irrelevant details that slowed the pace, and some of the big twists didn’t really make sense when compared to earlier events in the book.

one of my biggest frustrations was with Bailey herself. she would uncover shady information about Eliza and immediately run and tell... Eliza. like girl, you find something incriminating about your sketchy boss and your first move is to personally deliver the news to her??? be serious.

overall, a good premise that just didn’t fully deliver on the suspense or thrills i was hoping for.

This book was an absolute page-turner! Centered around an influencer mom, it brilliantly explores the gap between the curated perfection of social media and the messier reality that often lies beneath. I loved seeing Bailey quickly realize that not everything is how it seems.

The twist at the end? Completely insane. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story threw me for a loop in the best way. This was an unputdownable, addictive thriller that I’ll be recommending to everyone I know.

This book has great mystery and suspense throughout. Starts a little slow to build up the characters and plot. In the end, someone is seeking revenge but will they get it? No spoilers here! Enjoy the twists for yourself! Great story, almost believable with the lies influencers can tell behind a camera.

My first by this author and I loved it! Bailey is so happy to get the assistant job to influencer Eliza, who seems like the perfect mom on a perfect farm. There’s alot of rules for this position, some are odd, but Bailey doesn’t care. She just has to hope Eliza doesn’t find out who she really is……..
Awesome quick read thriller!

Release date May 1, 2025

This book was such a wild ride—dark, unsettling, and completely addictive. I went into it thinking I was getting a classic domestic suspense, but what I got was way more twisted and unhinged (in the best way). The tension builds with every chapter, and that creeping sense of “something isn’t right here” never lets up.

I loved the setup—a mysterious assistant, a too-perfect family, and a dream job that clearly isn’t what it seems. From the very start, I had a pit in my stomach and that stayed with me right through to the final page. Every time I thought I had figured things out, the story would pivot and hit me with a new reveal.

There’s something so satisfying about watching a plan slowly unravel, and this one delivered all the psychological mind games I crave in a thriller. If you enjoy books where the narrator keeps you guessing, the house is a character in itself, and everyone has something to hide—add this to your list immediately.

Dark, intense, and totally binge-worthy. I couldn't look away.

this book was perfectly relevant to what so many are coming to terms with in todays society. the worst thing is stories like this seems far fetched but they arent. and the realistic aspects of this book are becoming more and more occurrent in the culture of the influencer. i do not like this culture and i wish it would end. and i see so much of even this fiction book in so many of the influencers who are still up and running and being seeing as queens and heroes by those who "need" and follow them online.
here we have a telling of that culture. Bailey has her own issue for wanting to embed herself into Eliza Watts life. but being a personal assistant to a mega social media influencer is all anyone could wish for. right? because Eliza is the ideal mother with her three adoring children and her devoted husband. buuuuut this is of course all lies. like it is with these these people its built on greed and lies and manipulation.
as Bailey continues to watch and be part of this family the tensions and secrets build. this goes so much deeper and darker than Bailey thought possible. she is in way over her head. i was also eager to know what was going on with Bailey too and what originally bought her to the job or should i say to Eliza.
i hope this book has people thinking. i hope they dont just simply knock it off as the brilliant psychological thriller it is. because so much of this book is a stark mirror of what we are all seeing and reacting to online today.
but of course as a book, as a thriller this book is fantastic. could recommend it more. the twists and suspense kept layering on and on until you were sat there waiting on the edge of your seat for answers!

Really enjoyed this book, i felt it was very much so dealing with the current times with social media etc. Brilliant storyline, great style of writing with plenty of twists and turns.

Bailey embarks on a career as a personal assistant to Eliza Watts, a renowned social media influencer who epitomizes an enviable lifestyle. Eliza presents herself as an ideal mother of three charming children, alongside a devoted husband, residing in a picturesque home. As Bailey acclimates to her new position, she quickly uncovers that Eliza's seemingly flawless existence is predicated on duplicity. Tension escalates within the household as Bailey grapples with her own motivations for seeking to unveil the reality of Eliza's life.

As Bailey delves deeper into Eliza's existence, she unearths layers of concealed truths that lay bare the sinister aspects of influencer culture. The storyline is punctuated by astute plot twists, rendering it a brisk read that culminates in astonishing revelations. The commentary on the influence of social media on perceptions of reality resonates with contemporary societal issues, rendering it a relevant and thought-provoking psychological thriller. The plot twists were not forseeable, and therefore, kept me on the edge of my seat. Initially, I found the pace to be slow, but it picked up quickly following the introductory chapters (which admittedly were necessary for character development). The Fake Mother is an enthralling psychological thriller that scrutinizes the illusion of perfection that permeates the influencer domain. With Bailey’s obsession and Eliza’s secrets, the story presents a compelling examination of the intersection between social media and reality- and what can happen. Jenna Kernan intertwines a tale of obsession, deceit and unforeseen plot twists, making it an essential read for anyone interested in a great psychological thriller. I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last. I read this book just after I had the watched The Disney + documentary on the Franke family and it was impossible not to draw a comparision. This made it such a thought provoking and gripping read. I couldn't put it diwn and I was kept guessing all the way through

I hadn't read anything by Jenna Kernan before this, but I will definitely look out for her books in future. The Fake Mother is a very topical story of how the perfect Instagram life is nothing like the reality. See also the Ruby Franke stories in the news. I won't recount the whole plot for you, but in short, Bailey, the main character, is thrilled to get a job as the personal assistant to the famous vlogger and influencer Eliza Watts who lives on a perfect farm with her perfect children. Nothing is quite as perfect as the public image, and Bailey unravels a series of intriguing secrets that put her in danger..

It's well written, and the pace picks up after the first third of the book. Clever twists are scattered within the plot and the story kept me guessing until the very end. I was speed reading towards the end as the reveals got even juicier. A gripping read, that I would thoroughly recommend.