Unfortunately I really struggled to read this one, I’m not sure what it was specifically, except for I just didn’t connect with the characters or the story. I plodded on through the book. But just something for me was missing.

Maybe thinking the grass is greener on the other side! Tara had been adopted by her very controlling mother at 8 years old, she doesn’t see much of the outside world, the only pleasure she seems to get is watching someone else’s family life on you tube videos, especially the lives of the Feely family. For Tara they seem to have the perfect family life. When they post a video looking for an intern, Tara jumps at the chance. Her biggest problem is getting away from her mother.

The story is written in first person narrative, and does involve some abuse. It always amazes me how people are taken in by so many you tube vlogs, I know some are good, if you want to learn something new for example. But when you try to live your life through these vlogs it can really mess you up, as with Tara, she sees this family as being so perfect, but are they really? What secrets are they hiding?

I would like to thank #netgalley #LakeUnionPublishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

Absolutely fantastic book!  Could not stop reading it. At times an uncomfortable read, for the subject matter, not the writing (which is skilful), It twists and turns unexpectedly and really interestingly,  One really feels for the main character. Absolutely fantastic book! Could not stop reading it. At times an uncomfortable read, for the subject matter, not the writing (which is skilful), It twists and turns unexpectedly and really interestingly, One really feels for the main character.

I want to start off by saying thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book, it was a very good read easy to follow along with storyline and characters. This was a new author for me but I very much enjoyed it, thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to reading more by this author again. I highly recommend this book to everybody.

I am a fan of Emily Bleeker and this is another great story! A story of suspense, a real page turner. Had me totally absorbed in it until the the last page.  I highly recommend it! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher to the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s really book kept me up way later than it should have. I also may have been sneaking away during the day to read bits and pieces

I was intrigued right from the beginning of this book, constantly trying to "help" Angela/Tara. I couldn't stop reading and at times would be downright disgusted and angry about the story - feeling like it was so real. I pray and pray that this does not happen to people, but I know it does and so I pray that abductees find freedom and peace again like Angela!

This is a good suspenseful read with a good plot

Great book and detailed characters and surroundings. The only reason I am giving it 4 vs 5 is because I thought the ending was little easy to guess and I LOVE a shocker!

This was a very well written book, I couldn’t get enough of it. It’s a page turner, keep you up past midnight type of book, so many twists and events that made you smile, or heart wrench. I’ll be recommending this book to all of my book loving friends. Would love to see an interview on this book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions expressed are of my own.

What it Seems by Emily Bleeker was a great suspense novel! Fans of Gone Girl and Girl on The Train will love this book. It's a page-turner!

+++++++
 #WhatItSeems #NetGalley


Emily Bleeker has done it again!  I knew once I started this book I might well not stop reading until I finished it. 
Every book has suspense be it a crash or medical issue.........this time the book is about Tara who was kidnapped at 8 years old and lives with her foster mother. Tara is now 20 and unlike most former fosters, she still lives with the same foster mother.

But she...........steals. Yep mom has trained her well to steal, lie, and unlike most people who reach legal age, to stick by mother. Why? well like most victims, Mother has her trained by abuse. Years of abuse. 

Tara dreams of escape but does she dare? Or will Mother hunt her down and hurt her if she leaves?

I would love to say what happens but that would be major spoilers.

I will say this- Go get this book when it comes out and block off an afternoon or evening, turn off the phone, lock the door and read this book!

I was able to quickly devour this book, and now that I'm done I miss being a part of the story.  However, this book only ended up being average because I found Tara/Angela's ability to deal with everything around her a little unbelievable.  It wouldn't be impossible for someone to transition, especially when they really want something, but I think seeing that process a little more would have made the story line a little better.  I still like seeing her go from a caged bird to an almost normal person, and there were some twists I didn't guess, which is always good in my book.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good psychological thriller.

What It Seems
Emily Bleeker 
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 stars 

I’m a fan of Emily Bleeker. I have read a few of her books and have never been disappointed. This book pulled me in pretty fast and I quickly sympathized with the main character Tara. She was a prisoner in her own home.... her “Mother” was an awful person. I felt the character development of both characters really gave a true picture of their relationship. However, I didn’t enjoy the plot in the middle of the book. I found it to be quite unbelievable. The book ended strongly though with a twist I never saw coming which saved the book for me.

Thank you the Netgalley for providing me the ARC for my honest review of What it seems.

I have mixed feelings about this story.  The author does a good job of being real when it comes to manipulating abuse and how what we see on the internet is often staged to look perfect.  But the story line felt slow and I struggled to fully engage throughout the book.
For those of us who have experienced trauma, abuse, control, and manipulation, you will probably find triggers in the story.
For those who have escaped the horrors of abuse, please read carefully.  Some things may not make sense why an abused person doesn't just "escape", but it is very different for the one living under another's extreme control.
I appreciate the author walking us through a sad reality in our world.

This book was really good! Tara, a twenty year old woman, lives with her foster mother while they survive on a life of crime. Escaping the clutches of her mother, Tara manages to get an internship with a YouTube family, who she has privately been idolizing online for the past five years. 
The author builds all the characters well, so you actually feel invested in their lives, story flows well and has a great ending. I will definitely be reading more of the author’s work!

I received an E-ARC through NetGalley.

This story may be a difficult read for some. It deals heavily with child abuse and abduction. I found the first half of the book interesting. However, the story then became repetitive and seemed rushed to me. The twists at the end were excellent; I just wish they did not seem rushed.

I’ve read all of this authors books and this is probably my least favorite.  I almost stopped reading as the concept of the Freely family wasn’t doing it for me. I continued on and it was much better towards the end.  Good ending; but overall i skimmed through much of the Freely episodes. 
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

I was really hoping to like this book more than I did but I just could not finish it. I could not connect to any of the characters and I wasn't able to grasp anything this book was saying. I found myself skimming through pages and pages of what I tried to read and finally just gave up. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What It Seems is a fantastic, character-driven novel about stepping out of your shell and finding yourself as a person.

The story centers around twenty-year-old Tara, whose controlling mother physical and emotionally abuses her and forces her to provide their income: stealing and selling the stolen items online. Forbidden from conversing with others and locked inside her bedroom nightly, Tara’s only escape from her life is YouTube channel featuring the Feelys, a popular, seemingly perfect family. The Feely family puts out an ad for an intern, and Tara applies in hopes of breaking free from her prison. In order to pursue her dream, Tara will have to learn to speak her truth and come to terms with her past.

There are two aspects that I love about this book: shattering the perfect image that is constantly portrayed on social media and overcoming adversity to be who you were meant to be. Tara learns that the Feely’s life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, and she discovers herself through the process. 

The only part of the story that annoyed me was how long Tara held on to her secret; yet, this also shows how guilt and shame can really erect a wall around us and keep us from connecting to others. When I was little, I was PAINFULLY shy. At times I would be asked a question and I’d say whatever to stop the conversation from continuing, even though what I’d say wouldn’t be true or make sense. Even though it would have made Tara’s situation much easier to be up front at the beginning, her trauma made her clam up and unable to share her truths with those around her. 

I really enjoyed this book. There’s not much action as it is more character-driven, but it’s definitely worth the read.

Tara is a foster child and ‘mother’ is her foster mom who took her in when no one would at the tender age of 8. Tara is now 20 but with no means to leave she continues to bear the daily abuse from mother. 
Mother wasn’t like most mothers kind and loving but she was evil and cruel. She used Tara for the family business which included lying and stealing from stores and businesses to sell goods on eBay.  
Taras only escape is following the YouTube family and blog all the Feels. 
This book keeps me engrossed wanting to read more wondering the back story of Tara and why mother is so cruel,  Things definitely are not what it seems.  Emily Bleeker has done it again wrote a intriguing novel that kept me interested. Can’t wait to read more of her books. Thank you Netgalley  and the author for the opportunity to read this early!

This was an excellent novel that I very much enjoyed. Strong.characters and a fascinating storyline make for an exciting read. Highly recommended.