Marketing this as a thrillers feels incorrect because this is much more of a family drama.

Stella is a child advocate attorney who begins working with the Barclays, a family going through a custody battle. Not only are they in a custody battle, but they are also under some public scrutiny after the mysterious death of their most recent nanny.

As Stella gets to know this family and investigates the death of the nanny, it becomes clear to her that there is more happening than she could have ever imagined.

This book has multiple plotlines, including one involving Stella's past. Having context of Stella's past provided some rationale for her actions and decision-making, but it was a little distracting from the primary plot.

I was skeptical of where we were being led as readers from the start, and the plot twists didn't seem too surprising to me, but the reveals were still enjoyable.

My biggest gripe with this book was Stella's questionable relationship with a long-term mentor in her life, even when that person is revealed to not be who she thought they were.

This was a serviceable popcorn thriller, not bad but nothing too incredible.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Wowser!! I really enjoyed this one! Kept me hooked the whole way through. I didn’t see any of the twists coming!! Great read and I enjoyed the narrator as well.

I tried to read this book, and it wasn’t clicking. So I tried the audiobook, and it still wasn’t clicking. I really struggle with this author. She’s good for a popcorn thriller, and those are usually pretty palatable, but there is something that just doesn’t mesh with me and her writing. I keep trying, and it’s time to stop. I didn’t enjoy this book at all, I’m sorry.

House of Glass, by Sarah Pekkanen, is more than just a twisty thriller. Readers are taken on an emotional journey with Stella, the attorney appointed to serve the best interest of Rose, a little girl with lots of issues. For audiobook listeners, this book is an absolute MUST. Why? Laura Benanti. You may recognize her from the Younger tv series- one of my absolute faves. If not, check out her IMDB page-I have no doubt you will recognize her from her extensive list of credits (oh, and did I forget to mention her Tony award??). Seriously, Benanti's voice is magical. She hasn't read very many audiobooks (after you fall in love with her voice in House of Glass, definitely listen to Here in the Dark, by Alexis Soloski, which was absolutely brilliant, and my first audio from her.) Highly recommend!!!

It was okay, but felt very slow. Initially, I was interested and a bit creeped out, but it dragged on longer than necessary. I guessed the big twist, though it was still enjoyable, and I liked the audio format. However, I was ready for it to wrap up sooner and wished it had been faster-paced with more surprises. Overall, not my favorite, but still an entertaining listen.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.

On the outside she’s a lawyer with the perfect career. On the inside she has a dark past.

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney assigned to helping Rose Barclay - a nine year old girl who at best witnessed the death of her nanny, at worst was responsible for the death. Stella has to unravel the secrets in her own past to help Rose and to discover the truth.

I super enjoyed this book! Twisty and turny and full of all sorts of good tea.

What’s more mysterious and creepy than a little girl who hides shards of glass in her room, pushes her doll out of the attic window, and doesn’t speak?

Not much.

Nine year old Rose Barclay hasn’t spoken since her nanny, Tina, fell to her death. She’s become a recluse since that day, being removed from her school and finding comfort only in reading, listening to classical music, and playing piano. Since Rose’s parents, Ian and Beth Barclay, are getting a divorce, a case worker named Stella had been assigned to monitor Rose in order to determine who will gain custody of her. This is no ordinary case. Upon arrival to the home, Stella immediately notices bizarre things. No glass is allowed in the home - of any kind. In addition, the Barclays appear to be hiding something and are extremely protective over Rose. As Stella begins to uncover the truth, she is forced to face her own past trauma.

“The Barclay estate reminds me of a beautiful rock that you turn over to reveal wet, rotting leaves teeming with wiggling bugs stuck to the underside.”

I read the kindle ARC and the audio at the same time. Broadway star, Laura Benanti is the BEST narrator I’ve ever heard. Her characterization choices and inflection made the story flow with such authenticity. I was partly drawn to the audio recording because of her.

This book was a next level thrill for me. The storyline concept, the writing, the timing of each revealing piece, and the building denouement was (chef kiss 😚 🤌🏼) perfection. These characters were so poker faced that I could not detect who was bluffing! The action scene toward the end had me on the edge of my seat. The page turning rate of this whole read was sonic!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Sarah Pekkanan, and St. Martin’s Press for this thrilling ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Couple was one of my favorite thrillers, so I was insanely excited to read House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen. After reading a few of Pekkanen's titles now, I've realized what I love the most about her writing style is her ability to craft wholly believable psychopaths with rich backstories that make you question your sanity. Her characters are often so flawed and damaged that they're a little TOO relatable, in the very best way. One chapter into House of Glass, I was fully convinced that a sweet little girl offed the Nanny and was about to unleash the same murderous rampage on anyone in her circle. Does this story end this way? Was the nanny lying? Is everyone in this story hiding something? You'll just have to read it to find out for yourself, but trust me, you won't be disappointed!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a fast-paced thriller about a family and a crime where things are not quite as they seem. It has an intriguing premise, interesting characters, and a satisfying ending. I kind of guessed the twist but I still enjoyed the book a lot. The audiobook narration was masterfully done by Laura Benanti. I think a lot of readers/listeners would enjoy this thriller.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

SYNOPSIS -- 9 year old Rose Barclay is anything but ordinary. When her nanny, Tina, falls to her death and questions arise as to whether or not this was intentional, Rose becomes even more unique: suffering from traumatic mutism and stewing in complete silence. As her parents file for divorce, a "best interest attorney," Stella Hudson, is coerced into taking the case. Though Rose is younger than her typical clients, they have something important in common: Stella, too, has suffered traumatic mutism in her past. As Stella imbeds herself into the complicated family dynamics, she starts to uncover missing pieces of the puzzle. Why isn't there any glass in the Barclay home? Why does Rose seem to be determined to get her hands on a weapon? And what really happened to Tina?

This was a fast-paced and unique thriller! The premise was super interesting and I loved the perspective of a best-interest attorney! We don't usually get thrillers with such insight into a child's psyche, and this was a cool approach to take. The Barclays were a twisted family, and this was a twisted story. There were some GREAT twists, while some were more predictable and a bit of a let down overall. I was truly on the edge of my seat for this entire book; it was tense and suspenseful and riveting. The unexpected side story added a ton of dimension to the book, as well as to Stella's character. I think this could have a bit more succinct and had a little bit wilder of a twist, but overall it was a solid thriller that I really enjoyed listening to!

Beginning of this book might shape your opinion in an interesting way and you would read this book with that opinion in mind. Just like the narrator thought all along. But when you started to get the glimpse of the truth, you would be shocked. People do all sorts of things just to be able to protect what they have; however, the cunningness this culprit showed could be considered evil

Nanny fell off the 3rd floor window. Mom was in her room, dad was working in his office. grandma and Rose were outside. It couldn't be anyone from the house; this was a pure accident. This was such a tragedy when mom and dad were about to get divorce. Stella was there to figure out which parent would be the better option for Rose after divorce, but she found herself in the middle of this murder "mystery". Was it "weapon" collecting Rose? She couldn't be. right? Or was it the mom who couldn't deal with dad having an affair with nanny?

What you will find at the end of this book is far more sinister than anything you can think of. Not every weapon is used to attack. Not every silence is to conceal guilt.

HOUSE OF GLASS started off with a bang! I really enjoy solving a good mystery and this one had all the elements that kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed that the author included Stella's past into the story, so I could better understand her character as she gathered information on Rose and her family members. I highly recommend getting yourself a copy of this exciting story, you won't be disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC .

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

This was an easy listen. I liked the interlacing of the two stories past and present and how the author keeps you guessing. I did feel like it dragged on a bit but a solid audiobook.

Okay so this book was good. Did I love the ending? No. I think there should have been more red herrings. There wasn’t a lot to go off of since there weren’t many characters.

However, this kept me intrigued the whole way. I loved the mystery behind the glass objects, the windows being replaced, and what the heck Rose was keeping from everyone.

The pacing was a tad slow, I could have used a bit more intensity, but overall I liked it.

The narrator was great and the audiobook was perfect!

This was okay but very slow feeling. At first, I was more interested and slightly creeped out but I felt it was way longer than it needed. I totally guessed the big twist but it was still enjoyable and I liked the audio format. But I was ready for it to wrap and wish it had been a bit more fast paced, shorter. Maybe more surprises. Overall, not my favorite but still an entertaining listen.

I am a fan of Sarah Pekkanan's writing but this one fell flat to me. Between the overdramatization of the details to the melodramatic reading in the narration, I did not finish this one.

The second storyline was a distraction and it just detracted from the story, which felt familiar overall.

I will read this author again, I am unlikely to listen to the narrator again.

Thank you to #StMartinsPress for the #ARC provided through #NetGalley.

This was SO good. Loved how the past and the present were woven together. Great twist and super satisfying ending!

Stella, who is an interest lawyer, who is assigned to a new case to 9 year old Rose whose parents are going through a divorce and her nanny recently died at her home too. Stella goes beyond looking for the best interest of Rose and digs into why the nanny died. The story is a bit creepy and leads you down to not knowing who to trust. In addition to this case, Stella finally looks into the case of her mom's death and learns so much about her past. I found the attempt at romance for Stella was a bit out of place and didn't really add to the book and didn't provide any glimpse of what's to happen. Overall, a great enjoyable psychological thriller.

Laura Benanti did a great job with the narration and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio @netgalley for a copy of the book.

3.75 stars

This is another solid and engaging thriller from Pekkanen.

Young Rose needs some help, and Stella is just the one to provide it to her. Rose has stopped speaking after the suspicious death of her nanny at the family's home. Stella, who also had a traumatic childhood event that led to her long silence, will now use her investigative skills and empirical experience to find out the truth behind this strange death and Rose's silence.

I enjoyed this overall, but I wanted a lot more Rose content throughout and fewer references to Stella's past which, at some point, felt a bit overwrought. This is a good beach read: entertaining enough with little focus required.

When and where accessible, I recommend the audio version.

Loved it! 4.5. I am a big fan of the writing duo of Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, and this was equally satisfying. Lots of twists figuring out main mystery and the FMC character's relationships and history. The questions surrounding the young girl are handled with sophistication. And I just loved Stella--you don't always adore a character in a thriller, but I wanted all good things for her in the end. The narrator did a nice job overall and I thought a nice job slightly changing voices throughout, especially the voice of Charles which made me want him as a friend as well. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the AAC and the opportunity to share my review.