
Member Reviews

This story was not what I expected. Rose is such an interesting girl. Her nanny dies and she becomes mute. Was the nanny’s death an accident or did someone kill her? Stella is assigned by the courts to decide which parent Rose should live with once the parents divorce and she takes it upon herself to find out the truth about the nanny.
This book had twists and turns and kept me wanting to know more. I like how Stella’s backstory had relevance to her current situation with Rose.
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a fantastic job portraying the mom. I could just see her character through the way the narrator did her voice.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC audiobook. I’m glad I got the opportunity to listen to this fantastic story.

Thank you to Netgalley!
This one definitely ended differently than I was expecting. Although I had a slight hint of who it was but some of the other things that happened I wasn't expecting at all!
I always enjoy a good thriller that makes me want to continue listening or reading! I did have the audiobook for this and highly recommend it if you like a good "who did" it book.

This was such a captivating thriller! I love stories where every character could easily be the murderer, and this one absolutely fit the bill! Sarah wove Stella’s past into the story so well, and I thought it added a great level of complexity to the story.
This was so good on audio, and I will definitely be listening to all of Sarah’s books going forward! Laura Benanti nailed the narration, and I was engaged from the opening lines through the exciting conclusion!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Love books like this where everyone is a suspect. This book was definitely a page turner. So many secrets. So many twist and turns. This book will take you on a wild ride. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

This was my first book by Sarah Pekkanen. I really enjoyed this twisty thriller. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. This book will have you wanting to turn the pages quickly to see what is happening next. Thanks NetGalley for the audio eArc.

This book had everything I love in a cinematic spooky story. Family with everything to lose and a lot of secrets. A child that seems to be unhinged for some reason and a main character that has their own messy life to deal with. This family drama had me guessing for more than 1/2 of the book and even then, I wasn't sure I was right.
The main character was enough of a mess that her life bled into her job - deciding which parent should have custody of their child. Oh - and there was just a murder at their house as well. One big happy family.

This book captured my attention immediately and I totally relished in how atmospheric and unsettling it was! Creepy kid plots are inherently dark and fascinating, but the addition of a "plastic house" free of any sharp objects makes it even more intriguing!
I've always been captivated by selective mutism, and I loved the constant uncertainty about whether the child was evil and who could be trusted!
Pekkanen utilized short chapters to continually drive the suspense making this spine-chilling whodunit thriller an easily bingeable read!

This was a twisty, suspenseful story that keeps you hooked until the end. The many complex pieces keep the story moving and all come together in the end in a fantastic conclusion!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen offers a suspenseful plot with a captivating setting, but its twists can be predictable and the characters somewhat underdeveloped. It’s an engaging read, though it doesn’t quite elevate itself above the typical thriller.

Love a good domestic thriller! This one pulled me in immediately.
I loved the short chapters and the interesting child aspect. You doubt everyone and I wasn't sure where this one was going, but definitely enjoyed the ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for both an ARC and ALC. The audio made it more eerie and atmospheric.

Twisty domestic thriller with dark themes and a satisfying resolution. I enjoyed the creepy kid vibes, the complicated interpersonal relationships, and the strong FMC. The villain reveal felt slightly anticlimactic but I’m not sure why that was. I think you’ll still enjoy the ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

💭 MY THOUGHTS: This was an “okay” thriller for me. Our female lead is haunted by the trauma from her past which helps her as a social worker relate to the kids she is focused on helping. Everyone in the family she is assigned in a custody case is a suspect for the murder of their former nanny. I guessed one the shocking twists pretty early on but did not guess who the killer was. I found myself semi bored from the slow pace BUT at the same I did want to keep reading to find out how it ended.
@laurabenanti did a great job narrating the book and capturing the suspenseful elements.
Read for:
🩸 Whodunit
⚖️ Custody Case
💟 Social Worker
💰 Wealthy Family
👄 Secrets & Lies
🔎 Single POV
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
Spice Level: 🧼 squeaky clean

The plot caught my attention quickly.
** Tina de la Cruz, the nanny for 9-year-old Rose, falls or is pushed from a window to her death.
**She was having an affair and found herself pregnant
**Four people witnessed the fall
**Rose's parents are in the middle of divorcing
**Rose, who we believe witnessed the incident, carries sharp things and doesn't speak.
**Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She 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.
Oh, yes, there's something eerie about the house itself: It's a plastic house, with no glass to be found.
While this was a page-turner for me that was hard to stop coming back to, I have to say the story pulled in too much at times and didn’t stay focused. But all in all, Pekkanen did a nice job of occasionally causing me to jump from one suspect to another. Other twists I did predict.
While it wasn’t a fast-paced thriller, it did keep drawing me back to it.
🎧 The audiobook narration by Laura Benanti was exceptional. I’m always amazed by good narrators.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen was entertaining, and I needed to figure out who committed the murder. This well-written psychological thriller kept me guessing. I listened to the audiobook, which added to the story. I would recommend the audiobook. I don't want to give too much away, but this would be a good book to add to your list.

“Glass House” emerges as a compelling narrative that intricately weaves the deceptive appearances of an ostensibly perfect family into a suspenseful tale of mystery and lies. The tragic death of a young nanny sets the stage for this domestic thriller, raising the question of whether her fall was accidental or the result of a sinister push from someone within the household. This pivotal event draws readers into a labyrinth of secrets and suspicions that define the Barclay family’s existence.
Central to the story is Rose Barclay, a nine-year-old girl who becomes mute after possibly witnessing her nanny’s murder. Her silence is a poignant symbol of the hidden truths that permeate the novel, making her character both vulnerable and intriguing. The enigma surrounding Rose adds a haunting layer to the plot, as readers are left to wonder what revelations her silence conceals.
Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney with her own history of childhood trauma, is reluctantly drawn into the case to represent Rose. Stella’s character is a beacon of resilience, navigating through the Barclays’ unusual home—a “plastic house” conspicuously devoid of glass. Her search for clarity in a situation rife with obfuscation mirrors the overarching theme of seeking truth in a world shrouded in pretense.
The author skillfully creates an atmospheric setting that amplifies the novel’s tension. The historic Washington D.C. residence of the Barclays, with its imposing security gates and lavish interiors, stands as a silent witness to the family’s obsession with image and control. The metaphorical absence of glass in their home underscores the pervasive lack of transparency among its residents, all potential suspects in the nanny’s untimely death.
While the storyline is steeped in suspense and keeps readers on edge, it falls slightly short of the gripping narrative found in the author’s previous work, “Gone.” Nonetheless, the characters in “Glass House” are fascinating, each with hidden motives that blur the lines between victim and perpetrator. The mother, father, grandmother, nanny’s boyfriend, and even young Rose herself are ensnared in a chilling dance of trust and treachery.
An additional layer of depth to the novel is provided by the narration of Lauren Bananti, whose performance is noteworthy. Bananti’s delivery enhances the experience, capturing the nuances of each character and the atmospheric tension of the setting. Her ability to convey emotion and suspense through her voice adds a dynamic quality to the storytelling, making the audiobook version a recommended choice for those who appreciate auditory immersion in a psychological thriller.
In conclusion, “Glass House” is a thought-provoking psychological thriller that delves into the dichotomy of outward perfection and internal turmoil. It captivates with its atmospheric tension and complex characters, though it may leave long-time fans of the author wanting more. Despite this, the novel, coupled with Lauren Bananti’s effective narration, stands as a strong entry in the genre, reminding us that amidst a foundation of lies, uncovering the truth can be the most elusive pursuit of all.

I love Laura Benanti as a narrator! Her voice reads stories so well and her tone meshes perfectly with the story. Laura is an amazing voice actor and does a great range of voices. Laura is also very good at making the reader feel immersed in the story. I will listen to anything Laura Benanti narrates!
Rose, a 9 yo girl with traumatic mutism is in the middle of her parent's nasty divorce. A court appointed lawyer is assigned to represent Rose and outline a custody agreement. Stella, takes her job very seriously as she was impacted by traumatic mutism after her mother was found dead while 7 yo Stella hid in the closet for 12 hrs. It's up to Stella to uncover what really happened in this twisted household when the family's nanny is pushed from a third story window. As Stella enters the house she notices that all the glass is missing....
Fun and suspenseful. A fast read that will keep the pages turning with ease. The characters were well written and developed. When everything falls in to place, the shock will leave you feeling unsettled!

House of Glass is a mesmerizing, atmospheric thriller that had me captivated from the first page to the last. The way the author weaves mystery, tension, and psychological depth into the story is nothing short of masterful. Every twist left me breathless, and the eerie setting heightened the suspense in ways I didn’t expect.
What truly stands out is the complex characters and how deeply their motivations and fears are explored. You find yourself second-guessing everyone, unsure who to trust, and that unpredictability kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The writing is sharp, evocative, and laced with just the right amount of foreboding to make you feel like you’re in the story’s haunting world.
This book is a must-read for fans of thrillers, suspense, and dark mysteries. It’s an absolute page-turner that will stay with you long after you’ve finished!

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.

This was a fun read by Sarah Pekkanen and I would recommend it for anyone who like suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, theme, plot, and setting. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my opinions.

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.