I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this story. I liked the mystery and the psychological storyline. I got a few things right along the way but some I didn't guess. I fidnt like the direction the main character was going though. That I felt didn't need to be there and I felt it was just there and didn't add anything to the story.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was pretty good! Of course the whole time you're thinking the little girl killed her nanny but that's not what happened. The parents are removing all glass and other dangerous materials from the home because they're scared of her. When she wasn't the one they should be scared of...

HOUSE OF GLASS review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

🏠I love a bingeable thriller and that’s exactly what HOUSE OF GLASS was! I was invested immediately after the first chapter or so! I needed to keep reading to find out what would happen next. 👀

🏠Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
A young nanny has fallen to her death while working, but was her death an accident or intentional?? The only witness was a 9 year old girl who refuses to speak. When no one in the house can be trusted, how can the truth ever come to light?

🏠I loooove stories about families hiding big secrets. 🫢 There were a looooot of secrets in this one! The ending really surprised me and almost felt like it came out of left field? I enjoyed it overall but the ending lost me a tiny bit! I’d still recommend picking this one up!

🏠Thanks to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for my digital copies!

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me review House of Glass!!

There was a lot going on in this book.

Stella is family law representative and her latest case is a girl who is being strung in the middle of a custody battle between parents.

An affair causes the wife to file for divorce and fight for custody. The father files for custody as well, but nothing prepares you for the story you’re about to read!

House of Glass is a unique storyline that will leave you guessing!

House of Glass is the first novel I've read from Sarah Pekkanen as a solo author instead of a duo and I was a little hesitant. Her most recent novel with Greer Hendricks, The Golden Couple, was a flop for me so I wasn't sure how I'd like this one.

But I loved it! It felt like a mystery with a twist since the main character wasn't a police officer or someone personally involved in the situation. Her role as the child's best interest lawyer was new and interesting and Pekkanen's writing effectively created a sense of foreboding around Rose and what transpired in the family home.

I won't include spoilers but I was very satisfied with the ending and will definitely be reading her next release.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review! Read this book last year and gave it 5 glowing stars. Unfortunately too much time has passed for a detailed review, however I remember it being riveting. I am looking forward to her next one!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
Holy buckets. This was such a good book. I love how Sarah tells a story. Every detail matters, no matter how minute.
The way this story unraveled was brilliant—the chaos was built up, and the intensity pressured with each page was top-notch.
The characters were well done. I liked the story within a story we got as we moved forward with Stella. Her past, trauma, and healing journey played beautifully with this story.
The redemption arc was built deliciously, leaving readers no choice but to continue reading. Several deviously placed plot twists slapped me in the face and held me captive!
I love Stella's connection and ease with Natalia, and the line, “Her lips taste of whisky and feel like a promise.” was so poetically delivered. It was the justified ending to one chapter and the earned beginning of another. A work of art! Katy approved.

Publication date: August 6, 2024
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the chance to read House of glass by Sarah Pekkanen. I am sorry to say this book became lost in my ARC's and it took me too long before I finally settled into the story, and was committed to this intense thriller. The author is known for her twists, and intense atmosphere, and I had no idea where the story was going. I recommend House of glass, and any other books Sarah Pekkanen has written!

Sarah Pekkanen's books always leave me on the edge of my seat. In House of Glass we meet a young girl who has stopped speaking after the death of her nanny. An attorney is hired to help decide who it is best for the child to live with since the parents are going through a divorce. So many twists and turns and so many unanswered questions. Can we find out what exactly happened to the nanny and who is to blame. Great book!!!

Rose Barclay is selectively mute - or, to be more accurate, traumatically mute. Rose witnessed the death (or "potential murder") of her nanny amidst her parents impending divorce and she hasn't spoken a word since.

Stella Hudson is what I would call a child advocate attorney, but I think her title is "Best Interest Attorney" - she's appointed to serve in the best interest of children caught in custody cases. Stella seems like the perfect fit to represent Rose's best interests, as she too was traumatically mute due to her own childhood. In fact, she rarely takes cases with children under the age of 13 due to her own past trauma. Given their shared mutism, Stella takes on Rose as a client.

Stella quickly learns that there is more to this case, and Tina's (the nanny) death than meets the eye. Everyone in the Barclay household is a suspect - from the parents, to the grandmother, to even Rose herself. Rose's mutism isn't the only issue at play, she's also starting to exhibit some dangerous behaviors - violent outbursts and collecting sharp objects for two. Her collecting has lead to her parents to remove everything sharp from the house .

This novel has a lot going for it. It's got a sinister setting in their creepy home, a creepy kid (who doesn't love those?) and a twisty plot. I enjoyed the novel, but I did predict both of the twists which was unfortunate. The ending was a little odd for me, seemingly coming out of left field and turning what was proving to be a pretty sinister plot into a fairly typical thriller.

Overall, I enjoyed!

This was fast paced and chilling. Lots of twists and turns and had me guessing until the last page. I really enjoyed the secrets, deceit and drama this book had!

I love Sarah Pekkanen and this did not disappoint (I don't think she's capable of disappointing to be honest)! I will preface this with, it's a slower start than I would typically prefer. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I got into it, boy did I get into it and couldn't put it down. Pekkanen sure can write a twisty thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat constantly wondering what will happen next. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

when reading this book, I could not see that twist coming. it got me second and third guessing throughout the book and I could not stop reading!

Why Did I Listen To House Of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen?

There's just something about a thriller-mystery via audiobook. House Of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen was a solid choice to listen to -- plus I did not have to wait too long to borrow it from my library. I had wanted an audiobook that had a plot that would draw me in, would be easy to follow, and hold my attention. This book fully delivered.

What's The Story Here?

House Of Glass follows a law guardian named Stella. She takes on a case in which she must decide and advocate for either the mother or the father to have custody of young Rose. You see, the Barclay family live a life that looks golden - huge house in the DC suburbs, beautiful family. Only, the nanny just died by murder, having fallen out of an upstairs window. Rose and her grandmother were in the garden when it happened. It is unclear if it was the mother or the father. So, that's where Stella comes in. Complicating matters is that Rose is experiencing selective mutism as an effect of what had happened, so she can't say what she saw. Oh, and when Stella gets to the house, she's creeped out. There's absolutely no glass in the home. Everyone is suspect, including Rose.

How Did I Like House Of Glass?

Sarah Pekkanen's book had a chokehold on me. Normally I can transition from listening to my audiobook in my car to reading another, different physical book and then resuming the audiobook when it is either time to do a chore, exercise, or go someplace. However, with House Of Glass, I just had to keep listening. I suppose I was so drawn in because I really needed a distraction and this book provided that. It also has quite a few twists and I am slow so I can't always guess who the guilty party actually is -- so I had to keep listening just to know what would happen and who did it. Stella also has a sad backstory that plays a key role in the book too. I liked that this thriller was layered and interesting.

How's The Narration?

The audiobook is narrated by Laura Benanti who does an excellent job. As I said, it was so hard for me to stop listening to this audiobook, I was captivated. I think if you are an audiobook person and you also enjoy mystery-thrillers, this book is the one to pick up. It is 10 hours 43 minutes long but flies by.

Another great thriller!! This story kept me guessing all the way to the end. I have ready many books from this author and she always has a spot on my TBR list!

House of Glass delivers a solid, engaging thriller with a compelling central mystery and a strong protagonist. Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney assigned to a particularly twisted custody case, finds herself unraveling dark secrets within the Barclay family. With a possibly murderous child, a bitter divorce battle, and a home strangely devoid of glass, there’s plenty to keep readers hooked.
The twist at the end worked well—it wasn’t a shocking, out-of-nowhere revelation meant just for impact, nor was it overly predictable. It felt earned, which is more than I can say for many thrillers that rely on last-minute shock value. Stella herself was a complex, well-developed character, and the novel’s fast pacing kept me turning pages. While House of Glass doesn’t necessarily break new ground in the genre, it’s a well-executed, entertaining read that kept me guessing throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for providing me with an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.

This book made me dizzy! I was sure that the daughter was a menace, one of those children born with a dangerous psychopathy, and then I wasn't sure at all, back and forth until the end when it all made sense. I must also say that the house where the story mostly takes place gave me feelings of claustrophobia. All in all, I did enjoy this story, although I felt that it was longer than it needed to be, that it took far too long to get to the heart of the secret of what exactly happened that day.

Loved how the story progressed. Kept me interested all the way through. Just when you thought you had it figured out, something would sway that thought. Was a quick read, kept me engaged.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

I love Sarah Pekkanen, so I was excited to see that she had a new one coming out! It's an exciting thriller with interesting characters, it just didn't grab me as much as other thrillers, and the ending seemed a little over the top to me. Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC!