Whew this book! I was beyond thrilled to get the ARC and my expectations were definitely met! A school bus full of children and their bus driver are kidnapped and put into an underground bunker. The bravery by the children, my goodness. This book makes you question how’d you’d respond in this situation and if you’re doing the right thing. Timing becomes everything as these children fight for their lives. The ending was incredible and I could not put it down. As all of Noelle’s book, this is inspired by a true story and I always like to learn more about the real people that lived through these traumas. Recommending this book for fast paced thriller fans for sure! Thanks to Net Galley, Noelle Ihli, and Dynamite Books for the ARC! Looking forward to the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Noelle Ihli for the ARC and opportunity to review this book! This was a heart stopping 5 star knock it out of the park read. It had me on the edge of my seat and knowing it was loosely based on a true crime event made it even more heart stoping! Loved it from the first page to the end!

5+⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was one of those read in one sitting can’t look away book, I was hooked from page one, the pacing is incredible, the story was unique and suspenseful. My only negative feedback is just that the characters weren’t particularly likable, but there were well rounded and realistic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC!
Noelle Ihli is an auto read for me every time, and her newest gripping story does not disappoint.
The story, inspired by the Chowchilla school bus kidnapping, takes us through several POVs that are completely harrowing and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I love that with Noelle Ihli’s books based on true stories, it leads me to learn the true stories that I may never have explored otherwise.

What an amazing and heart pounding read! Such Quiet Girls was an amazing thriller that sucked you in from the start. I loved the different perspectives used to help tell the story especially those of Jessa, Sage, and Ted. The found family relationship that is built between Sage and Jessa is a bright and heart warming spot in the story as thr reader continues to hope that they can get out alive. While I wasn't a big fan of Sheena's POV it was a nice side to see how the outside world was taking in the events of the story.
A near perfect read!

This book is a must read! Noelle West Ihli really did a fantastic job creating a descriptive environment with characters that are both likable and relatable! The storyline is clear and I enjoyed that the author even gave a humanistic approach to one of the captors.

I could barely put it down because the chapters ended, many times, with a cliffhanger of their own!

The ending was great as well. Sometimes heroes come in the smallest packages!

Thank You to Netgalley, Noelle West Ihli and Xpresso Book Tours for the chance to read the ARC for this!

Another 5 star book for Noelle W. Ihli’s newest book Such Quiet Girls. This had me totally hooked from page 1 and I could not put it down. This is based off a true story back in 1976 and my husband remembered when it happened. This is a fave for 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. I thoroughly enjoyed every single detail put into this book.

4.5⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

I’d read anything Noelle W Ihli writes at this point. I love her storytelling, character depth, and how she keeps me wanting more every single book. I love how she writes about real tragic events but makes the story her own. This book is easily top 3 of my favorites from what she’s written.

This story is terrifying, frustrating, gut-wrenching and a parent’s worst nightmare all in one. I was nervous and anxious the whole time for what was to come next but was surprisingly happy by the ending. I hope we all can raise little girls like Sage. The writing was so descriptive, I felt it was something I was seeing first hand. The beauty of Noelle’s writing always leaves room for your own imagination to fill the scenery or gaps. I can’t recommend her books enough! If this isn’t on your TBR.. add it immediately!

Thank you for NetGalley for this ARC! This was my first Noelle West Ihli book, and I'll certainly explore her backlist now. In Such Quiet Girls, a bus-driver-with-a-complex-past named Jessa has just started a new job driving a group of elementary kids home from their after care program when they are hijacked and kidnapped for ransom. The kidnappers force them underground, trapped in a bunker at an abandoned quarry, so time is of the essence in regards to having enough air.This story uses multiple POV (Jessa, one of the kids, one of the kidnappers, and one of the mothers) to show different perspectives and motivations, and this was probably what Ihli did the best in constructing this story. Each POV was fresh and interesting and believable. Looking forward to checking out her other books!

Stop what you're doing and read this book!
This was such a thriller and I could not put it down. I started it late evening, just reading a few chapters, and then woke up early the next day and put chores aside to sit and read this.
Two young criminals hijack an after-school program bus. The driver and kids are forced into an underground bunker. The oldest child is determined to get out. Even though Sage kept thinking about what Harriet the Spy would do in this instance, she was wise beyond her 12 years and really pulled herself together for all the kids.
This is a really tense book and full of action.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

So grateful to have been able to read this book early. It was a rollercoaster ride and I enjoyed every minute. This was a very quick read for me, couldn’t put it down! I loved being able to read from the point of view of the kidnappers and the kids.

‘Ten children, abducted in broad daylight—and buried alive.’

Such Quiet Girls, told from several alternating POV’s, details the minutiae of a grandiose plan hatched by a couple of losers to kidnap a bus of kids and the driver for ransom.

I couldn’t wait to get my paws on this book. A highly anticipated read for me.
The story was interesting and well written. Plenty of details to keep you informed with no lingering doubts or questions.
However, and even though there were multiple POV’s, it still came across quite monotone to me. Which in turn made the experience feel less like a “gripping thriller” and more like a simple to-the-point recounting of events. I found no grip here whatsoever. Just my personal opinion of course and I appreciated the story nonetheless.

& I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy, so big thanks to NetGalley and the pub.

Release: 4.29.2025.

Starting by saying I LOVE Noelle Ihli because her writing and storytelling is unlike any other thrillers I've read. Unlike so many thrillers that can become extremely far-fetched, Noelle's books are crazy fast-paced and full of thrill, but they also feel like you are reading about things that CAN actually happen to someone. (And yes, this book and some of her others are loosely based on true events, but I feel this way about all her books.
The characters were written perfectly, I was entertained the whole time (and was often thinking about it in my daily life wanting to see what would happen/how it ends) and I literally want to jump through my Kindke and give Sage the biggest hug. Women and girls are amazing! Highly recommend this one.

I will say, the beginning of the book was so good. It was chilling, held my attention, all the things. The middle? Very lacking. I wanted more grit and gasp factors. I found myself just skimming a lot. The end was decent, but by then I was just ready to be done with it.

So good! I wouldn’t call this a psychological thriller, there are no twists. But I was still hooked. It is supposed to be based off true events but I can’t find the story it was based off of.

WOW!

Where do I even begin? This was yet another Noelle book based on true events that left my jaw on the floor and brought me to tears! The entire book was intense, and the fears and emotions of the characters were palpable. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I’m fully convinced that if it weren’t for other obligations, I could have finished this in one sitting.

I love Noelle’s writing style. When I’m reading her books, the stories play out like movies in my head and make me forget I’m even reading. This book was no exception. It was an absolute page turner that I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite books for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle West Ihli, and Dynamite Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! Such Quiet Girls was a tense, twisty read that kept me completely hooked from start to finish. There were several moments where I found myself holding my breath, completely immersed in the suspense and uncertainty of what would happen next.

Noelle West Ihli does a fantastic job building a chilling atmosphere that keeps you guessing. The pacing was solid, the tension palpable, and the characters well-drawn. It's one of those thrillers that grabs you early and doesn't let go until the final page.

Thrilling and captivating for sure—I couldn’t put it down!

Noelle W. Ihli’s Such Quiet Girls is a gripping thriller that pulls you into a world of suspense where every page reveals new layers of tension and intrigue. The writing is sharp, compelling, and full of subtle complexities that make this story one you can't put down.

The story is told from multiple points of view. The characters are well developed, and as the narrative unfolds, we learn there’s much more beneath the surface—hidden pain, secrets, and an emotional depth that takes the story to unexpected places. Noelle W. Ihli expertly captures the nuances of their personalities, making each character feel authentic and real.

The plot itself will keep you on the edge of your seat. The themes of reflections of the past, the harrowing present, and hopes for the future make this book such a page turner.

Such Quiet Girls is an exceptional exploration of strength, survival, and the complexity of human nature. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, making it an easy five stars in my book! I recommend this to anyone who loves a psychological journey wrapped in suspense and emotion.

This book had me hooked right from the start. Such a gripping plot, really enjoyed! Being a mum myself this storyline really hit home for me. I felt every single emotional reading this!

Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy ! This is my favorite style of writing. The jumping between POV’s. Easy to keep track of who is who. Completely on the edge of my seat