What It Seems by Emily Bleeker

What It Seems

by Emily Bleeker
Published: Lake Union Publishing, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Amazon, Goodreads

“It’s about feeling worthy enough to have something better.”

About the book

Adopted by her controlling foster mother at the age of eight, twenty-year-old Tara has seen little of the outside world. Lonely, punished for the slightest offense, her only distraction comes from watching the Feely family’s online videos. They’re an affectionate vlogging quintet and an internet sensation. Most important, they are Tara’s mental refuge. Then the opportunity arises for them to be something more. When Tara accepts an internship with the close-knit clan, they’re her escape.

Daring to run away, and defying Mother’s rules, Tara is welcomed into the loving fold. But the more Tara gets to know them, the more she realizes that not everything is as it seems. As secrets slowly surface, the image of the perfect family begins to crack. For Tara, it’s another trap.

To claim a life of her own, she’ll need a new escape plan. Because as the show’s popularity explodes, reaching even more fascinated viewers, Tara can’t shake the feeling that Mother is among their ranks. She’s watching. She’s waiting. She’ll never let her go.

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.