This was pretty good. I enjoyed it a lot. There were some complaints that I had: a lot of the details, for example, felt like throwaways, like they didn't really matter. The "grandpa's" voice, in particular, was like . . . why? Did Harriet know that tina had a dead grandpa? The ex-boyfriend and Ashley didn't need to be unique characters, they could have totally been a composite.

House of Glass is absolutely stunning. Original. Gripping. Could not put it down! Will be purchasing for my libraries.

Thrillers are not my usual cup of tea when it comes to reading, but when I got the email with a blurb for this book, I felt compelled to put in a request. I liked all the build up and learning all the individual's stories. I did not see the ending coming. I had some suspicions of whodunit throughout the whole book, but I was still sitting on the edge of my seat until the very end. I definitely want to check out more books from this author!

I am new to reading Sarah Pekkanen and saw House of Glass splashed all over my Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon Recommended, and many other places. Thanks to Macmillan Audio & St. Martin's Press, I read this book in a day. I had to know what Rose saw on the day her nanny fell to her death. Stella's job is to determine which of her parents Rose would be best suited as her primary giver or some combination of the two. However, as Stella attempts to do her job, the media storm around the family kicks up, and at her core Stella knows something is amiss about that fatal day..

I found the novel interested. The plot was intriguing and I actually enjoyed how unlikeable most of the characters were. At times, the book felt far-fetched and drawn out and other times I was wanting more. I read and listened to the book. The audio was easier for me, because I could speed up the audio pace when my attention at times started to drift.

I both read this with my eyes and listened to an audio copy and felt that both ways worked really well for this twisty story. The author did a great job of tossing doubts into the main character's head (and therefore into the reader's mind as well) and I, for one, never guessed the actual killer until the reveal. The secondary story between Stella and Charles was a great mirroring of the trauma both Rose and Stella felt and how important it became to know the truth in order to heal.

From the onset of this book, I was sucked into the story. The Barclays were acting all kinds of shady from the start, and I, much like our MC, needed to know why. I wasn't overly surprised by the twist as I had guessed pretty early on what was going to happen, but I still enjoyed the ride.

Stella was an interesting lead. I liked her thought process and how she tried to connect with Rose and figure out what was happening at the Barclay mansion, but I felt like we got a little too much of her personal life in this book. I didn't need the Marco storyline nor the extra bit of romance towards the end. It didn't add anything to the story at all. The stuff about her mom was also a little overdone, but at least it connected with the main storyline, so I was able to give that a pass.

Rose was my favorite part of this book. She was a really intriguing character. I wasn't totally sure what was going on with her, even though I felt like it probably wasn't what the author wanted us to think.

Overall, this was a quick read that grabbed my attention and kept it throughout the entire book, but it didn't wow me with a twist.

If your looking for something quick and engaging, I'd recommend.

Reading Between the Wines book review #82/130 for 2024:
Rating: 4 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Book: House of Glass
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Available now!! Released on August 06, 2024!

Sipping thoughts: Creepy little child anyone? I love a good creepy little child book while at the same time getting almost too scared to finish reading. So many secrets, lies, coverups and danger lurking through the pages of this book. I’ve enjoyed Pekkanen’s books and this one did not disappoint.

Cheers and thank you to @StMartinsPress, @sarahpekkanen and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @HouseofGlass.

#HouseofGlass #SarahPekkanen #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

House of Glass is a thriller you can read very quickly. It’s evenly paced and has an interesting premise which drew me into the story right away. In fact, my favorite part of the reading experience was that I never felt bored. It held my attention the entire time.

But as engaging as the story was at the beginning, by the end I felt a bit frustrated and disappointed.

I’m always drawn to stories about children because children are often unreliable and it makes for an interesting plot. The question of whether Rose was responsible for the death of her nanny, Tina, and the reason she acts the way she does was the one thing that kept drawing me back to this book.

However, what brought down my rating the most was the illogical inconsistencies in the story. To discuss them in detail would be spoilery, but I found Rose’s characterization very inconsistent. It was as if the author threw in a few scenes for shock value or to throw readers off track, but it made Rose feel like a jumbled mess of a character. In fact besides Stella Hudson, the main protagonist, the other characters were not that strong. I never felt I had a chance to truly understand their motivations.

So, while I enjoyed my time while reading the majority of the book, the ending was a bit disappointing and overall the story didn’t do anything unique or different.

I’d recommend reading House of Glass if you enjoy a tightly paced thriller, unreliable characters and are looking for a quick weekend read.

*Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars, rounding up to 4
This was an interesting suspense. You don’t know who you can trust and what really is happening/happened. It all came together at the end and I liked how it was wrapped up but I never really felt connected to any characters and what was going to happen to them.
A decent suspense.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the short chapters and the mystery vibes. It was a total whodunnit scenario and I was suspicious of everyone! This was spooky and dark domestic thriller and I definitely recommend it!

I loved this thriller! Stella is an attorney charged with determining custody arrangements for nine-year-old Rose whose parents are planning to divorce. Rose is mute ever since her nanny died after falling through an attic window in Rose’s family’s mansion.

While Rose is facing tragedy, Stella is still suffering from her own childhood trauma while trying to do her best for Rose, all while untangling the nanny’s death, as well as other strange and eerie experiences in the mansion.

This book was unputdownable because it had an interesting, fast moving plot combined with well developed characters. I especially admired Pekkanen’s sensitivity and understanding of childhood trauma.

Thrilling and heartwarming to the last page, which brought tears to my eyes.

Thank you Netgalley, author and St.Martins Press for the ARC.

A prestigious, rich perfect family find themselves embroiled in all types of controversies and broken apart after the suspicious death of their nanny Tina who was taking care of their precocious 9 year old daughter Rose. Enters Stella who's acting like advisory lawyer to decide who's care should the child go under after divorce of the parents and in best interest of her. As Stella begins to dig into the family , the accident that led to the nanny's death she begins to uncover that there is more sinister things that's playing within the family and their home. Will she be able to find out the truth or meet the same date as the nanny did ?

I've loved books from this author before and also her books as co author with Geer Hendricks, the psychological suspense is palpable and keeps you hooked throughout the plotline.

The whole story was creepy, ominous ,suspenseful and had me engrossed in guessing the whodunnit. Half way through the book even though i guessed who's responsible and probable reason which did end up being accurate, I still immensely enjoyed reading it.
The chapters are short with cliffhanger endings that help to get through the story faster.

We also get to read a secondary story from personal /past aspect of the main protagonist Stella , how she faces it and makes peace with it was an interesting touch and its shown to have unearthed and affected because of the current case.

Overall I definitely recommend reading this quick summer poolside/vacation trips read.
For those who like movies like Orphan and books like Ruth Ware's Turn of the Key.

It's a 4/5 🌟 read for me.

What a creepy book House of Glass was! I mean we learn early that a nanny has died and there are a very limited number of suspects: A mother, a father, a grandmother, a boyfriend, and a child. The parents are now headed for divorce and are in a custody dispute while still living underneath the same roof. A mediating lawyer is brought into the case to determine the appropriate custody arrangement for the daughter, who has become mute since her nanny's death. Naturally, as the lawyer navigates who should have primary custody, she needs to determine if one of the parents is the killer. Add this to the fact that she, herself, faced a major trauma as a child and was mute for a period of time, so she can relate to the child.

This thriller was so good, not to mention, there were genuine moments of emotional depth that I really appreciated. So far, between this book and her last, Sarah Pekkanen is proving to be a solid thriller writer even without her partner, Greer Hendricks.

Breaking her own personal rule has sucked Stella into her most dangerous case yet…

Stella has worked hard to get where she is, & she excels at her job as a best interest attorney advocating for children caught up in the midst of their parents' divorces. But this newest client is younger than she normally helps, & is currently mute due to the trauma of her nanny plunging to her death from the top story of her home. Stella’s mentor insists that she’s the only one who can help Rose Barclay since Stella herself experienced a period of traumatic mutism in her childhood. But the house where Rose lives is far from a comforting place for Stella to be while she makes her observations for a recommendation to the court: the place is eerie, the family unwelcoming, & ALL of the glass has been replaced with plastic…

This is a book I had a hard time putting down: with short chapters that kept me turning pages & Stella’s personal life also coming into play during the midst of her ongoing interactions with the Barclays, I couldn’t decide who (if anyone) was a murderer & all the spooky happenings definitely kept me on my toes. A few random things I enjoyed: Rose’s love of horses, the author’s thoughts on grief, & a Book of the Month mention (I’m a subscriber). I also loved that the ending of this book provided a substantial amount of follow-up on many fronts.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sarah Pekkanen DOES NOT MISS! I’ve loved all her work and this is another winner for me. A premise that grabs you from the beginning, lots of her signature smart twists and turns and a satisfying ending. If you love domestic thrillers/suspense be sure to pick this one up!

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers that will keep you guessing, then Sarah Pekkanen’s House of Glass is the perfect choice. Tina, nine year old Rose’s nanny, fell to her death from the third floor window. The police have not been able to determine whether it was an accident or murder, so no charges have been filed. Since the death Rose has suffered from traumatic mutism. Beth and Ian Barclay, Rose’s parents, are in the process of divorcing and Stella Hudson has been asked to represent Rose as a special interest attorney in the custody dispute. Because Stella suffered a similar reaction when she discovered her mother’s body as a child, her mentor feels that she is in the best position to help Rose. From the moment that Stella walks into the Barclay home she has an uneasy feeling. There is no glass in the home. It is explained away as Beth’s phobia to glass, but there is more to it than that. Stella witnessed Rose take a sliver of glass from the sidewalk and hide it. As Stella spends time with Rose she begins to suspect there is something wrong. Rose was dismissed from her school after being found with a knife and she has been collecting sharp objects.
Stella begins to suspect the child in Tina’s death.

Rose’s case has Stella reflecting on her own childhood trauma and the death of her mother. As she seeks answers she also begins to experience some of the problems faced by Tina shortly before her death, such as missing items, notes telling her to leave and whispered voices. Stella realizes that each of the Barclays had a reason to harm Tina. To discover who was responsible she must force them to take action by putting herself in harm’s way. It may be the only way to save Rose. This was well written with a number of surprises along the way that kept the pages turning. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen was the second book I have read by this author, and both were solid thrillers. I was gripped by the mystery of what really happened to the Barclay's nanny and why little Rose hasn't been able to speak since her death.

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney whose job is to make recommendations in custody cases. When she is assigned to Rose Barclay, whose parents are divorcing following the death of their nanny, who had been having an affair with Mr. Barclay, she has no idea how Rose's trauma parallels her own childhood trauma or how close the case will touch her own life.

I found the plot to be riveting and well crafted. I didn't see the resolution coming the way it did, which makes me love a thriller all the more.

I will recommend this to readers who like domestic suspense with thrilling plots.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big fan of Sarah Pekkanen, especially those books that she co-authored with Greer Hendricks , and House of Glass didn't disappoint. It was fun to read something by Pekkanen alone.

For some reason in books lately, it is the nanny that is the evil aspect of that "perfect home" in the neighborhood, but this time it was the nanny that fell to her death out of a three-story window. Was it the mother, father, grandmother, the nanny's boyfriend, or the child that caused the death?

Pekkanen does a great job of keeping the reader guessing throughout the whole story. The book is fast-paced and drops little hints along the way. It is more of a "whodunnit" story rather than one with many twists and turns.

I liked the character of Stella, who was the court-appointed attorney and hired to decide where Rose, the mute child, should live after after the divorce. The story is told through her perspective.

Just when you think you figured out the murderer, the story changes on you. I love that kind of book. If you like books by Alice Feeney, B.A. Paris, or Ruth Ware, you will enjoy this book also.

I gave this book four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

If you're searching for a thriller that keeps you guessing, check out "House of Glass" by Sarah Pekkanen. This book follows a young girl who witnesses her nanny's tragic death and becomes mute as a result. When Stella, a lawyer, is brought in to represent the girl during a custody battle, she finds herself digging into the nanny's death, uncovering secrets that kept me guessing right up to the last page.

Everyone seems like a potential suspect in "House of Glass." I found myself pointing fingers at almost every character as the story went on. Pekkanen's talent for creating suspenseful, twisty tales is fully displayed here. If you've read The Golden Couple, which she co-authored with Greer Hendricks, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I loved that book, and House of Glass delivers the same intensity.

So, if you're in the mood for a good, reliable thriller that keeps you confused and second-guessing yourself, I can't recommend "House of Glass" enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

It's been a while since I've read anything from this author was excited to see she had a new release. I was drawn into this right from the start and couldn't put it down. I just had to figure out what was going on with this family and their child. My mind was reeling nearly the whole book trying to figure it all out, but it wasn't until the author revealed everything that it all came together beautifully. I thought this was a really unique thriller and really had a fresh concept. The characters were pretty well developed and easy to keep track of. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.