Childhood trauma is inevitable, though its impact varies for each individual. Stella Hudson's trauma, stemming from losing her mother to drug addiction, has led her to a career as an attorney specializing in child advocacy. Her latest case involves nine-year-old Rose Barclay. Rose's parents, Ian and Beth, are in the midst of a divorce, and Stella has been called in to determine Rose's final custody. Both parents have agreed to abide by Stella's decision as a neutral third party. During her investigation, Stella gets to know the parents, Ian's mother, Harriet, who lives with the family, and, of course, young Rose.

Divorce isn't the only dark shadow over the Barclay family. Rose's young nanny, Tina, recently met a tragic end, falling from the third-story window of the family home and plummeting to her death. Rose witnessed this event and has been so traumatized that she hasn't spoken a word since. Beth was equally impacted, developing a phobia of glass that has led the family to replace all the windows with plexiglass. Ian was affected in a more personal way. Before Tina's death, he had been involved in a passionate affair with her. The investigation into Tina's fall found no obvious sign of foul play, but the question lingers: was the young nanny pushed? If so, who was responsible? Was it the father, Ian, or the scorned mother, Beth? Or, most disturbingly, could the quiet young Rose be the one responsible for the tragedy?

Sarah Pekkanen has a knack for crafting page-turning thrillers centered on compelling family dramas, and her latest book, House of Glass, is no exception. After enjoying her previous standalone thriller, Gone Tonight, I was eager to dive into her newest release and was thrilled to receive both a physical and audio copy from her publisher. Pekkanen skillfully plays with genre conventions, using familiar tropes to present tantalizing red herrings. I'll admit, I thought I had the plot figured out, only to be surprised by an unexpected twist at the end.

House of Glass hooked me from the start, drawing me into the mystery of a mute child whose perspective may hold the key to the truth. This irresistible puzzle kept me reading non-stop. I had noted some uneven pacing in Pekkanen's previous novel, but House of Glass showed no such inconsistencies. It's sheer fun, popcorn reading at its finest—slightly over the top but thoroughly enjoyable.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a riveting psychological thriller that delves into the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect family. The story centers around Rose Barclay, a nine-year-old girl who stopped speaking after witnessing the possible murder of her nanny during her parents' acrimonious divorce. Enter Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney specializing in child custody cases, reluctantly taking on Rose's case due to the insistence of her mentor, a respected judge.

From the moment Stella enters the Barclay family's opulent and eerily plastic home, she senses something deeply wrong. The family's facade of perfection quickly unravels as Stella delves into their lives, uncovering a web of lies and hidden traumas. Each family member, including Rose, becomes a suspect in the nanny’s mysterious death.

Pekkanen masterfully builds tension, intertwining Stella’s investigation with her own troubled past. The narrative is filled with well-timed twists and a haunting atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. The character of Stella is particularly compelling, as her personal history and emotional struggles add depth to her role as an investigator and protector.

House of Glass explores themes of truth, deception, and the psychological scars left by trauma. The Barclay family's dynamic is complex and disturbing, making the unraveling of their secrets both thrilling and chilling.

Sarah Pekkanen’s sharp writing and intricate plotting make House of Glass a standout in the psychological thriller genre. It’s a gripping, suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the very end, questioning who can be trusted and who is hiding behind a perfect lie.

Stella comes into the Barclay home to assess the situation for the daughter, Rose. Their nanny fell to her death out of a window in the home, the parents are getting divorced, and now Rose suffers from traumatic mutism. Stella has come to find out what is best for Rose, and as someone who herself suffered from traumatic mutism as a child, she can understand Rose at a deeper level. But she notices something, the house no longer contains anything made of glass, why would that be, who are they trying to keep safe?

I really enjoyed this story and as an audiobook it kept me entertained. Stella may only be there to assess what is best for Rose, but she’s also curious about what happened to the nanny. The police have no leads, and in a family who would lie to save one another anyone could be a suspect. Passing the suspicion around, you think Stella has figured it all out until she hasn’t.

Stella has a complex past and we learned a lot about it and there was a lot of story of her life progressing. Felt like a first of a series, and 8 hope we get to see more of Stella down the road.

I always love Pekkanen's books and House of Glass was definitely intriguing and held my interest. There were a few different storylines going on in this novel and mostly I enjoyed that. At times, I wanted less about Stella's past and more about her current case, but it did all work together nicely.

I had inklings about what really happened to Tina, but Pekkanen was fantastic at constantly throwing me off and making me question everything. I loved the strange and aloof characters, the interesting dynamics between Stella and the family, Stella's career, and the descriptions of the eerie home. At times, it almost felt like there might be horror elements woven through and I thought that added a nice element to the story as well.

I listened to this novel on audio and felt it was well done. I liked the narrator and appreciated the sense of drama she brought to the story. She helped me visualize the setting and I think it would translate really well to the big screen.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but think it may ultimately be a bit forgettable for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the copy.

This was a rarity for me: a five star review for a thriller. I do like them but they are usually palate cleansers and I accept that about them. They typically earn four stars from me unless I find them dull because they often lack something that makes them more meaningful for me. Sometimes it is character development; at other times it is believability.
House of Glass, however, had all of that. I really liked Stella, the protagonist. She had a backstory that drove her to do her best to find out what was going on. She is a lawyer who needs to make a custody recommendation in a divorce where there was a murder of the little girls nanny. I was as invested in Stella's story as I was in Rose, the little girl's. I was with Stella as she got to know the family and all the secrets its members kept. I really hope that there is another book with Stella, as I really enjoyed learning about her as she solved the mystery.
The narrator was good, reading the text with inflection, keeping me engaged when I was listening to the audio.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for providing me with this advance reading copy/audio in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such a fun book! It really kept me on my toes and I really could not figure out what was going on until the end. I really loved the main character, Stella and her growth through the novel.

I was able to listen to this on audio and I think Laura Benanti as the narrator did an amazing job setting the tone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

Big thanks to both NetGalley & Macmillan audio for the ALC copy of this great thriller!!
This one is out Aug 6!!!

This started off super great with a quick, fast pace that I really loved. I was very ibntrigued with the story & how the MC & subject were connected on some levels. The middle did get a tad slow for me, but by the end it picked back up & was ready for all the action!!

I think Pekkanen did a fantastic job painting all the characters as potential villains to disguise the real cuplrit. The twists were definitely fun throughout this book.

I really enjoyed the way this wrapped up & thought Macmillan audio did a fantastic job with the narrations!!
Recommend this one!

I like my psychological thrillers twisted and complex and THE GLASS HOUSE by Sarah Pekkanen is all of that. There’s a lot going on in this book with dual mysteries to solve and it all kept me turning the pages. I alternated between the print and audio versions of this book and both delivered a gripping reading experience.

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney assigned to evaluate a client whose parents are in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody dispute. The child, Rose Barclay, is 9-years-old and suffering from traumatic mutism after her young nanny died from a mysterious fall through her bedroom window. Stella’s first visit to the Barclay home reveals something bizarre - all the glass has been removed from the home and replaced with plastic or plexiglas. She also notices that Rose has a penchant for pocketing and hiding sharp objects. Stella soon begins to wonder if Rose could be capable of murder.

Stella has her own personal mystery to solve. Orphaned after losing both parents as a child, Stella is searching for answers about her mother’s death. As each piece of information is slowly revealed, Stella discovers that her own life holds many secrets and deceptions.

Both storylines play out simultaneously keeping the reader engaged and wondering what the next twist will reveal. Laura Benanti’s narration is smooth as silk with many layers as the tension builds. This is a taut thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

i think this is my first book by this author. I found that the book was a little dragged out and predictable (this is not meant to offend author, just honest opinion). I did find that the protagonist was really relatable. The audiobook narrator was good as well.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

House of Glass, written by Sarah Pekkanen and narrated by Laura Benanti, is a psychological thriller that I could not put down!
Stella our main character, is a best interest attorney. She is hired to get to know Rose, whose parents are getting a divorce after the death of Rose’s nanny. But as Stella gets to know the family, she recognizes a lot of similarities between herself and Rose, and what they have both gone through. At the same time, some of the things she is told concern her. She knows that she is supposed to decide what is in Rose’s best interest, but how can she do this when she is worried about Rose’s own actions?
This was my first book that I have read by this author, but it will not be my last! I loved the mystery, the character and plot development, and really enjoyed the way that Stella recognized similarities between herself and the family she was working with. I think it really added to the mystery and suspense! I definitely recommend this read. Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, narrator, and publisher of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my #gifted ARC and thank you Macmillan Audio for my #gifted ALC of House of Glass! #MacAudio2024 #macmillanaudio #HouseOfGlass #SarahPekkanen

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟱★

This book had me hooked from the start! This was my first time reading a book by Sarah Pekkanen and I am now hooked. This was such a creepy book that was so addicting that it was so hard to put down. It was so atmospheric and the premise was truly like anything I’ve read. The twists and turns were NOT what I expected at all. I love when a book totally throws you for a loop, and this one did just that. I found that the pacing was perfect too. This was truly an amazing thriller.

I totally think it’s best to go into this one blind, but if you want to read a description, you can swipe for a full description.

💜Atmospheric
💜Bingeable
💜A Twisty Thriller
💜Family Secrets

🎧I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Laura Benanti. She was truly flawless. I could not have picked a better person to narrate this book. I highly recommend this one on audio if that option is available to you. You will not be disappointed!

Posted on Goodreads on August 1, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around August 2, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on August 6, 2024
**-will post on designated date

"But I saw it. I know what this shy-looking girl collected off the sidewalk and concealed to keep." ~Stella Hudson

Stella is a best interest attorney assigned to Rose, a 9-year-old girl who became mute after her nanny (Tina) fell to her death from a window. Rose’s parents each want sole custody of her. Stella may be the only one who can help Rose because she also had traumatic mutism as a child. Did Rose witness what happened to Tina? Did she really fall or was she pushed?

Okay y’all, I couldn’t put this down! Poor little Rose is so traumatized she can’t speak, yet she’s collecting sharp objects, and reading a secret book, SHE HAS NO BUSINESS READING, disguised as Anne of Green Gables. Rose. Is. Creepy! I alternated between feeling sorry for her and thinking she was evil. Stella on the other hand, is endearing and affable. Her traumatic past is slowly revealed and her dedication to Rose and advocating for children in general is laudable. She’s also smart and clever, documenting events as they happen and thinking things through rationally, although some weird things happen that make her doubt herself.

This is my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and I was IMMERSED in her atmospheric writing. The sinister vibe was in full effect one minute and the next I wondered if it was really there! Pekkanen is a master of doubt and misdirection. I alternatively listened to the audio and physically read the book. Laura Benanti performed emotions perfectly including Stella’s increasing suspicion and fear, alongside her fierce protective and empathetic nature. The audio definitely adds a chilling element; I couldn’t listen if I wanted to sleep! Mixed in with the mystery and suspenseful anxiety was emotion and heart. I actually became teary at one point and that RARELY happens to me in a thriller. HOUSE OF GLASS is entirely riveting, brimming with unease, tension and uncertainty that doesn’t let up until the intense and shocking conclusion!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the gifted eARC, ALC & physical copy. All opinions are mine.
____

Potential spoiler content warnings below.








































⚠️Content warnings by me: childhood trauma, manipulation, gaslighting, Mention of: fatal motor vehicle accident, alcoholism, drug addiction, drug overdose & infidelity

5.0 stars

I really enjoy Sarah Pekkanen when she writes with Geer Hendricks but had never read anything that she had written alone until last year but I fully enjoyed "Gone Tonight" so I asked for an arc of this and was lucky enough to receive one. I fully enjoyed this novel. It is mostly a phycological thriller with a tiny bit of horror thrown in for good measure.

Stella never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella's mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help nine year old Rose who witnessed the the could be murder of her nanny. As Stella begins to look into what Rose witnessed things begin to look darker than Stella could ever imagine.

This was an excellent novel filled with suspense and a bit of dread.

A great faced paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
This one had me guessing till the very end. The audiobook was well done and kept me entertained while cleaning and doing laundry. Add this one to your tbr

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin press for my gifted audio book.

Phew. This was a psychological thrill ride with a dash of horror. The atmospheric writing and tension setting worked wonders and some scenes had the air on my arms standing up. The house creeped me out for no tangible reason and I was cringe-reading some of the scenes following Stella trying to get into Rose's head and figure out all the secrets this family is holding. The characters are so well written and I loved the juxtaposition of the current case that inspires Stella to look more into her past trauma. A spine-tingling and action filled ending made this such a great book.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend that route to amp up the tension!

Stella has been assigned to be a guardian ad litem for a young girl, Rose, whose parents are getting divorced after her father had an affair with the young nanny, and got her pregnant - the same nanny who suspiciously fell to her death from her attic room. While Stella's role is to determine what the best living situation is for 9 year old Rose, she is immediately plunged into the mystery of the super eerie house and the bizarre death of the nanny; how can she figure out what the best post-divorce custody situation is for Rose if she cannot figure out who killed the nanny (you don't want to give full custody to a murderer). Was it one of the parents, the grandmother or even Rose herself? While digging into this mystery Stella's own life is being threatened and secrets from her dark childhood are coming to light.

Sometimes going in blind to these novels is the way to go and for this one I am so glad I did! This was what I would call a light thriller; it hit all the right notes while keeping me totally entertained. I had both the audio and the book but since I was reading something else at the time I started with the audio and with the first chapter I was hooked. While this novel wasn't the most twisty turny unpredictable book, it had enough that I needed to know what happened and put down my other book so I could quickly finish this one. It's fast, it's fun and totally bingeable (a popcorn thriller) with a dose of family drama thrown in to make it more interesting. I think this is a good August book because if you are sitting by the pool or beach you can throw in your bag and ignore your kids for a few hours (so I guess I would call it a Spindrift and chip thriller rather than popcorn one because that's what I generally eat at the beach).

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Wow!! Just…wow!!
Psychological thriller with lots and lots of layers, lots of twists, wonderful character development, and lots of guessing as to who did the deed!!??!!

We OPEN up with a nanny plunging to her death. Was it an accident? Was it murder?? Who knows??

When Stella Hudson is assigned to the case, this is exactly what she wants to find out! But her client is Rose, a very young girl, who has been rendered mute since the event.
Since Stella had a similar event when she was just a child, her mentor feels this is the perfect case for her! But Stella’s interests lie in the child, as she is a children’s advocate when the child’s parents are getting divorced. She’s the one who comes in to evaluate the home life of the child, and gives her opinion of who the child would be best suited to live with…

But, the more time Stella spends with Rose, the less sure she is of what’s going on, and where her best interests lie. And, the more Stella is feeling frightened of the entire situation…

As she investigates, she tries to also find out what exactly happened with the nanny. And the more she learns, the less she actually wants to know.

The husband and wife are still living under the same roof, with Rose, and the husband’s mother. But Stella ‘feels’ that there is something here this t is amiss, she just can’t pin it down! And the more closely she watches Rose, the more afraid she is, as she sees some really strange things happening right before her eyes 👀!!

Don’t blink! Don’t breathe! Hold on to your seats! And don’t miss this one!!

All the stars ✨🌟⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟✨⭐️ for me!!

#HouseOfGlass by #SarahPekkanen and narrated beautifully by #LauraBenanti.

⭐️⭐️⭐️. This is due for release on 8/6/24! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️

The title of this book is a compelling reason to pick it up. Will this be a literal glass house, or more metaphorical? What we find in this case is a house with no glass at all! It is a complex situation, but the genesis of the changes from glass to plexiglass was the nanny's fall from through the window of her third floor attic room. Yes, that will give you the heebie jeebies!

Our narrator is Stella Hudson. She works as a Best Interest Attorney (BIA). Her client (Rose Barclay) is a 9-year-old with traumatic mutism from the death of the nanny. Rose lives in the house with her parents, Beth and Ian who are "separated in place," and her paternal grandmother Harriet. As Stella spends time gathering information to make a recommendation she cannot help but feel an evil presence in the Barclay home. Despite the opulent surroundings, it is not a pleasant place. Could the menacing presence be one of the family members? Could it be Rose?

This book got off to a strong start for me, but it seemed a little crowded -- character-wise. There is an additional plot thread connected to Stella's past and that seemed to overly complicate the narrative. Not my favorite from Sarah Pekkanen, but I will look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat, and honestly it was hard to guess the ending which I really loved. The twists at the end were believable and didn’t feel like they came out of left field which I always appreciate.

As a fan of Laura Benanti, I was so excited to listen to her narrate a thriller. I will say, I’m used to hearing her voice in musical form, so this was different but I enjoyed it. I think Laura’s theater background definitely shows in this because I thought she narrated every aspect perfectly. It kept me engaged and helped the story flow.

Storywise, I liked the whodunnit feel to this. Listening via audiobook, I didn’t have a guess early on, so I was surprised with the outcome. I thought the story maintained a decent speed in that it didn’t lag or move too fast for me. The characters were interesting, especially Rose. I also liked the time laps between Stella’s past and present, felt like that helped me get to know her more as a character, while also adding a sense of suspension to her life too.